Jan 6, 2014 3 min read

A Jefferson County man accused of leading police from several departments on a chase in a stolen truck last month that ended with the Cecil Township police dog getting hit by a car and the suspect’s apprehension has been charged in the pursuit.

Chuck E. Buchko, 36, of Brookville, was charged by Cecil police with receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, fleeing or attempting to elude police, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and several traffic violations.

The Dec. 1 incident began with the theft of a 2012 Ford F-150 pickup truck from Pathfinder Navigation in North Franklin Township.

After North Franklin police learned the truck was equipped with an onboard GPS, the vehicle was tracked to Route 2 in West Virginia and then onto Route 22 near Weirton, where Weirton police briefly chased the vehicle. The truck was then tracked onto Route 50 in Hickory, Mt. Pleasant Township.

Cecil police received a report from a 911 dispatcher that the truck was headed in their direction on Route 50. The truck was spotted on Routes 980 and 50. Sgt. Richard Egizio pulled in front of the truck, and the driver reportedly tried to ram his cruiser. Egizio backed off when Buchko almost hit another vehicle, police said.

Buchko then passed another vehicle and turned onto Muse-Bishop Road. When he tried to turn onto Cumer Road, the truck went over an embankment and became stuck in the mud at 250 Cumer.

Police said Buchko then fled on foot, and officers tracked him down Muse-Bishop, Burnside, Papp and Angerer roads. Officer Jeff Holt and his police dog, Miner, were among those following Buchko. Police were also using a thermal-imaging camera provided by the Cecil No. 2 Volunteer Fire Department. Tracks led to the Montour Trail, where police said they later found some items belonging to Buchko.

After breaking off the search, Cecil firefighters were on Morganza Road just past the entrance to Montour Trail when they were approached by Buchko, who first asked for a ride and then asked “how to get to Washington County.”

When Buchko was approached by police, he allegedly ran off. Another motorist went around a stopped police car, striking the police dog. Buchko was then apprehended.

The police dog suffered minor injuries.

A preliminary hearing will be scheduled before Senior District Judge Jay Dutton. Buchko remains incarcerated in Washington County Jail on a probation violation from Dauphin County.

North Franklin police have not made a decision as to whether they will charge Buchko.