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City Man Allegedly Under Influence During Chase At Speeds Topping 100 MPH

A Jamestown, N.Y., man was allegedly high on marijuana during a high-speed chase that reached more than 100 miles an hour before ending when his vehicle went off the road in Glade Township.

Frank A. Strohauer Jr., 25, now faces a felony charge in Pennsylvania as well as 14 additional vehicle and traffic charges. He was arraigned Sunday morning by Magisterial District Judge Raymond Zydonik and bail set at $15,000. Strohauer Jr. was unable to post bail and was taken to the Warren County Jail.

Strohauer Jr. was charged with reckless driving, second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation, speed not reasonable and prudent, failing to keep right, stop at a stop sign, improper or no signal, no lights, unregistered motor vehicle and uninspected motor vehicle by the Jamestown Police Department on Saturday. On Sunday, a third-degree felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude officer was filed by the State Police at Warren as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving under the influence of alcohol/controlled substances and vehicle and traffic citations that include careless driving, reckless driving, driving without lights to avoid identification or arrest, registration required – PA registration expired more than 60 days or non-PA registration expired or unregistered, operating a vehicle without required financial responsibility, maximum speed limits – other locations, driving at safe speed, driving on roadways laned for traffic – single, driving on right side of roadway – general rule, limitation on driving on left side of roadway, no passing zones, restraint systems – driver or passenger under 18 and driving while operating privileges suspended or revoked.

According to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed by the State Police at Warren, A State Trooper was on patrol when he was dispatched to Scandia Road in Elk Township to assist the New York State Police after the chase crossed into Pennsylvania at 2:01 a.m. Sunday. At 2:24 a.m., the trooper saw the vehicle driving south on Scandia Road and tried to pull the vehicle over after seeing the vehicle cross the center line of the road.

“I began pursuing the vehicle at a high rate of speed in an attempt to catch up to the suspect vehicle,” the trooper said in the affidavit. “I caught up to the suspect vehicle and reached speeds in excess of 100 mph, and at one point reached speeds of 112 mph. While pursuing the vehicle, the suspect vehicle drove down the center of the roadway in disregard for other traffic.”

The trooper said Strohauer Jr. turned off his lights to avoid detection, repeatedly crossed the double yellow center line and drove in the oncoming lane of travel for extended periods of time, including on curves, and illegally passed another vehicle traveling south in a no-passing zone. The chase eventually came to an end in Glade Township.

“The suspect vehicle lost control and slid off the west side of the roadway in the area of 1757 Scandia Road, Glade Township,” the affidavit states. “Strohauer admitted to using marijuana one to two hours prior to this incident and showed signs of impairment,” the affidavit states. “Strohauer refused chemical testing.”

Officers of the Jamestown Police Department were working a GIVE detail patrolling the area of Allen Street near Willard Street, when they observed a red sedan operating with no plates. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle, in which the vehicle then failed to comply and fled at a high rate of speed. Strohauer Jr. is due back for a preliminary hearing before Zydonik on Sept. 10. He will also be in Jamestown City Court later.

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