Sep 8, 2017 3 min read

The Washington man accused of leading police on a chase through several municipalities Wednesday afternoon before crashing on an Interstate 70 ramp told a district judge during his arraignment that he was addicted to crack.

After his release from UPMC-Presbyterian hospital, John Dustin Donley, 26, was arraigned Friday morning before District Judge Jay Weller on charges of causing or risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment, fleeing or attempting to elude police, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, unauthorized transfer or use of registration, reckless driving and other traffic violations.

Donley’s passenger, Julie Lynn Maynard, 32, of 123 Church St., was arraigned Thursday morning before District Judge James Ellis on a charge of hindering apprehension and four counts of conspiracy. State police allege she knew Donley was wanted on a warrant and had given police a fake name. She was placed in Washington County jail on $10,000 bond. Donley told Weller she is his friend’s girlfriend.

The incident began about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when South Strabane police Officer John Beckus stopped a pickup truck driven by Donley after noticing improper license plates on it. The truck had a license plate registered to a different vehicle, and there was an arrest warrant for the owner of the plate, identified as Donley.

Within seconds of another South Strabane officer arriving to assist Beckus, Donley allegedly started the truck and fled south on Route 19 before getting on I-70 west to Interstate 79 north. The pursuit continued on Interstate 79, back onto Route 19, Racetrack Road, Pike Street and I-70.

An unsuccessful attempt was made by state police to stop the fleeing vehicle using stop strips at the Eighty Four exit. At one point, police said Donley entered I-70 at Dunningsville and traveled west in the eastbound lanes along the shoulder. He exited at Route 519 and attempted to re-enter the highway. When Donley tried to get back on the interstate, a trooper used his marked state police sport utility vehicle to crash into the truck, forcing it over a hillside on the ramp from Route 519 to I-70 west, where it overturned. Police said speeds during the pursuit reached nearly 100 mph.

When Weller entered the courtroom to begin the arraignment, Donley was sound asleep, and both the judge and troopers had to clap their hands near him to wake him for the proceeding. Donley told Weller he had been given methadone Friday morning before leaving the hospital.

Weller asked Donley if he was aware he was wanted on six bench warrants issued through Washington County Court. Donley said he had not been paying his fines, nor had he seen his probation officer in four months. He told Weller he was supposed to see the probation officer monthly.

“You’ve got to pay your fines, and you’ve got see your probation officer,” Weller told him.

When Weller asked Donley if he was struggling with a drug problem, the 26-year-old admitted to using crack.

Weller told Donley he was denying him bond, telling him he was a danger to the community and himself.

“You don’t respond to the courts,” Weller told him. “You put a lot of people in danger.”

The judge also told Donley he is a young man.

“Let’s start the rebuilding process and get you some help,” the judge said.

Both Donley and Maynard face a Sept. 19 preliminary hearing before Weller.