W.Va. man charged in two-state chase
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A West Virginia man is in Washington County jail, accused of leading state police on a chase that apparently started in Monongalia County, W.Va.
Jesus Cervantes-Gudino, 32, of Morgantown, faces charges including fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving under the influence of alcohol, having an open container of alcohol, resisting arrest and several traffic violations.
State police at the Washington station were notified about 12:50 a.m. Sunday by state police at the Waynesburg station about a pursuit of a Kia Sedona going north on Interstate 79. Monongalia deputies had attempted to stop the vehicle as it fled into Pennsylvania, but deputies and troopers had lost sight of the van.
Troopers William Dowlin and Christopher Babirad of the Waynesburg station were on I-79 southbound about four miles south of the Waynesburg exit when they spotted the van going north. They turned their cruiser around and began pursuing it, activating lights and sirens.
Police said Cervantes-Gudino accelerated to speeds exceeding 100 mph. The West Virginia man continued north, getting off at the Marianna/Prosperity exit at high speed and then re-entering the highway from the on-ramp.
Additional troopers joined the pursuit. Stop sticks were used to deflate the tires on the van about two miles south of the Lone Pine exit. The van hit the strips and traveled about another mile before slowing to a stop.
Cervantes-Gudino ignored orders by troopers to get out of his vehicle, police said. Trooper Scott Dowlin went to the passenger side of the van and ordered him to unlock the door. After being told a second time, the driver unlocked the door but still refused to get out of the van, police said. Trooper Chad Scrip then removed Cervantes-Gudino, who allegedly put his hands under his body to resist attempts to take him into custody.
Cervantes-Gudino was taken to the Washington station, where he reportedly refused to submit to a blood-alcohol test and would not sign the refusal form. Police said they could smell an alcoholic beverage on him and that his eyes were red and glassy and his speech slurred.
He was arraigned before District Judge Joshua Kanalis and jailed on $250,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Nov. 27 before District Judge Ethan Ward.