The Herald, Sharon, Pa.

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September 24, 2008

Hospital escapee Washington is back in custody

By Courtney Anderson

SHARON — A Farrell man who has been on the run since he escaped from a Youngstown hospital after a car chase, crash and fight with Sharon police on Sept. 14 is in Mercer County Jail.

Kevin Washington Jr., 49, whose last known address was 1159 Wallis Ave., was arrested Tuesday night by Meadville police, Sharon Police Chief Mike Menster said.

Washington was wanted on 18 charges, including two counts of aggravated assault on a police officer and drug charges.

He was arraigned Wednesday afternoon by District Judge James E. McMahon and taken to jail after failing to post $200,000 bond. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Oct. 2.

Menster said Washington was a passenger in a vehicle stopped for a traffic violation Tuesday evening in Vernon Township, Crawford County. Washington gave township police a false name and they later discovered there was a Sharon warrant for him, Menster said.

Police then searched the township and Meadville for Washington and he was found at a tavern in the city, Menster said. The bar was put under surveillance until Washington exited and he was quickly taken into police custody with the help of a K-9 officer, Menster said.

At the time of his arrest, Washington had $5,500 on him, Sharon police Captain Travis Martwinski said at Washington’s arraignment.

Washington was held in Crawford County Jail overnight and Sharon detectives picked him up Wednesday.

Menster said Crawford County officials have not decided whether to charge him for giving a fake name.

Sharon police said Washington ran a stop sign about 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at New Castle Avenue and Malleable Street and police tried to pull him over. Washington did not stop and a car chase ensued, police said.

Police said Washington ran a Sharon police cruiser off the road, crashed his car into a tree on Prindle Street and fought police who tried to arrest him, spitting blood in one of their faces, police said.

He also struggled with ambulance personnel who took him to St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, where he was listed in stable condition Sept. 15 and discovered missing Sept. 16.

After the incident, police found an undetermined amount of crack, powdered cocaine, a digital scale and a catalog to order marijuana seeds in Washington’s car, Menster said. They also found an expandable baton like those used by police.

Five policemen who were exposed to Washington’s blood during the fight must be tested for communicable diseases in the upcoming months, police said.

Washington, who was sentenced to 8 years in prison in 1999 in Ohio on kidnapping and assault charges, has escaped from police before.

When he was arrested in 1998, Washington managed to escape from the Warren, Ohio, police station.

In this case, Washington is charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver, two counts of aggravated assault, fleeing police, resisting arrest, reckless driving, speeding, failing to yield to emergency vehicles, driving under suspension, improper left turn and eight counts of failing to stop at a stop sign.

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