A man accused of fleeing a traffic stop was driving under the influence of alcohol and prescription medication when he led police on a high-speed chase for 9 miles through Centre County on Tuesday morning, according to a criminal complaint.
William K. Smith, 42, of Clinton County, was driving in excess of 65 mph in a 45 mph zone at about 6:15 a.m. on Benner Pike in College Township when a state police sergeant attempted to pull him over, according to the complaint. Smith continued driving at a high rate of speed, weaving between lanes before turning onto Houserville Road, where he drove on the wrong side of the street and ran a stop sign onto Rock Road, police wrote.
Smith continued driving on the wrong side of Rock Road, passing other vehicles in both lanes and traveling recklessly around blind curves, police wrote. After running through the stop sign at the Fox Hill Road intersection, he traveled past another at the Buffalo Run Road intersection before pulling into a church parking lot, according to the complaint.
As the state police sergeant approached the vehicle, Smith allegedly reentered Buffalo Run Road and continued west at high speed until he ran over spike strips put down by Patton Township police at the Bernel Road intersection. With two front tires deflated, Smith continued to flee until he drove off the road, police wrote. Speeds during the pursuit were in excess of 85 mph, according to state police.
Smith exited the vehicle and refused to obey commands, yelling at police to shoot him, according to the complaint. A Patton Township officer who arrived on the scene tasered Smith with “minimal effect,” but Smith eventually agreed to comply, police wrote.
He first refused to provide his full name and had no ID on him, but after Smith identified himself by name and date of birth, police found he was wanted on DUI offenses in Union County, according to the complaint.
After taking Smith into custody, police observed an odor of alcohol on his breath and that he his eyes were watery and bloodshot. He refused a breathalyzer test at the scene and a blood draw when he was taken to Mount Nittany Medical Center, saying that “with what you find in my blood I would be better off refusing,” according to the complaint.
While being transported to the Centre County Correctional Facility, Smith said that he had taken Valium and other prescription medications.
Smith is charged with one felony count of fleeing, one misdemeanor count of driving under the influence and 19 summary offenses.
He was arraigned on Tuesday afternoon by District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, who denied bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 21.
