Chase in two states ends in apprehension of Greenville escapee
Staff report
greenville, pa.
A man who was to be arraigned on an assault charge escaped from the Greenville magistrate’s office, then police chased him after he stole a van.
Greenville Police Sgt. Paul Molton said Shawn Hodge, 25, a former Greenville resident, was arrested Wednesday evening after he argued with a man at a home on South Front Street, then pulled a revolver.
He remained in the city jail until Thursday morning, when he was taken to District Magistrate Brian Arthur’s offices. He was in a waiting room there when he bolted and got out of the building, Molton said.
The police officer who was with Hodge called for help, then police got a report of a small work van stolen from North Second Street, Molton said.
Molton said the keys had been left in the van.
Police from Greenville, Hempfield Township, the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, the Mercer and Crawford County state police posts and Pymatuning State Park caught up with Hodge in Jamestown, Pa., They chased him into Trumbull County then back into Pennsylvania on Routes 322, 7, and 58 and on back roads, Molton said.
He turned onto Bush Road in Green Township, Mercer County, and then onto an old railroad bed.
He got out of the van and ran, but police eventually cornered him in a campground rest room at Pymatuning State Park, Molton said.
He was taken back for his arraignment, then taken to the Mercer County Jail on $75,000 bond. Charges from the escape are pending, Molton said.