Trooper feared for his life during pursuit

Mar. 14—MERCER — Testimony in the trial of a Grove City-area man accused of trying to run down a state police trooper was interrupted Thursday when the officer broke down on the witness stand over what he characterized as a near-death experience.

"The only thing going through my head was that I might never get to see my family again," Trooper Everett Lesko said. "I had to get back to them."

Five prosecution witnesses testified Thursday in the trial of John Barlow Jr., 60, of Grove City, who is charged with first-degree attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, resisting arrest and multiple driving violations. Two accounts of agricultural vandalism and a subsequent charge of criminal mischief were dropped when two farmers reported minimal damage to their farms.

Lesko testified that he narrowly avoided being struck by Barlow's vehicle, and he fired nine shots at the car as it drove off.

The prosecution is expected to wrap its case, with the possibility of closing statements, Friday.

Thursday's testimony began with Trooper John Maczko, who was with Lesko when they initially tried to arrest Barlow. Also testifying were Gregory Brandt, who captured police drone images; Michael Picard, a member of the state police forensic science unit; and Trooper Mark Neugebauer, who arrested Barlow.

Testimony by Maczko and Lesko included images from their unit's dashboard cameras. Maczko said that state police had tried to arrest Barlow the previous night, but he was not at home.

During cross-examination, defense attorney David Wenger questioned Maczko on the process of attempting to take Barlow into custody, including asking why troopers continued a pursuit at speeds as fast as 95 mph on back roads. Maczko said he felt it was his obligation to continue trying to catch Barlow.

The defense also questioned Maczko on an incident involving Barlow a year earlier, when Maczko took Barlow into custody on an unrelated charge. Barlow tried to flee, and Maczko brought him to the ground, cutting Barlow's chin.

Barlow then requested to go to the hospital and escaped from EMTs and Maczko. Wenger implied that Maczko may have been embarrassed by Barlow's previous escape so he took liberties on catching Barlow this time. Maczko denied the allegation.

Brandt talked about images that showed the path Barlow took when he left the road in his vehicle. Wenger had no questions on cross-examination.

The photos Brandt took allowed for a clear view of the path the officers took on their chase of Barlow, as well as tire marks throughout the fields that Barlow drove through and the woods he hid in.

Pickard showed photos of the area where troopers shot at Barlow's vehicle and tire tracks in the area. Police found shell casings of 11 of the 12 bullets fired.

The truck photos showed where bullets damaged Barlow's vehicle, including the windshield and the rear. Pickard said one bullet that hit the glove box discredited Barlow's claim that he had a passenger during the chase, because that shot would have hit a passenger and there was no blood near the glove box.

Investigators found blood in the driver's seat, which matched a part of the account of a bullet striking Barlow's hand, which caused him to lose part of his pinky finger.

The defense questioned if the location of the bullet holes in the truck or the shells on the ground could prove where the officers were standing, but Pickard could not answer.

Lesko's dash cam video had sound — Maczko's had been silent — which let the jury hear police call out when the speeds reached 95 mph. After Lesko's account of what he said was Barlow's attempt to run him over, the trooper said he had a clear view of Barlow as he drove by but chose not to as his life was no longer in danger.

Wenger questioned Lesko in the same manner as Maczko, by asking if continuing the pursuit was a prudent decision, and Lesko answered the question as Maczko had: that apprehending Barlow was his duty.

The defense attorney also asked Lesko if Barlow had tried to hit him or just get away. Lesko said that he thought Barlow was trying to get away, but his only path of escape was through the trooper.

The final testimony was from Mark Neugebauer. Neugebauer is the officer who arrested Barlow.

Neugebauer gave his story on how he found Barlow at a Slippery Rock campsite in response to an anonymous tip. At the campsite, they initially found Barlow's truck covered up in an attempt to hide the bullet holes. He had zip-tied a large metal sheet over the back window to hide the damage.

Barlow was found in a shed next to the truck and taken into custody.

The defense asked Neugebauer if Barlow had resisted being arrested. Neugebauer said he tackled Barlow before he had the chance to resist.

NOTE: Barlow had previously been identified by an incorrect name in court documents. All defendants are to be presumed innocent until proven or adjudicated guilty in court.