Martinsburg Man Jailed for Fleeing from Police

By RICK BOSTON

Staff Writer

A Martinsburg man is behind bars after fleeing an attempted traffic stop by Altoona police on May 21.

According to the criminal complaint, an Altoona police officer was working traffic detail when, at approximately 3:45 p.m., he spotted a car, driven by Terry Ross Aungst III, 33, of Martinsburg, traveling on Sixth Avenue in Altoona, with an expired inspection sticker and a missing rear window.

When the officer activated his emergency lights to initiate a traffic stop, Aungst allegedly began speeding up, leading to a chase through city streets.

Police said Aungst's car left the roadway for about a half a block, entering a sidewalk and grassy area along the 700 block of Third Street.

After entering back on the roadway, police said Aungst drove at a high rate of speed along Bellwood Avenue, narrowly missing a tractor-trailer that was partially blocking the road.

Police said Aungst then made a U-turn and proceeded down Seventh

Avenue and turned down a alley.

Police terminated the pursuit because of a school bus in the area unloading children.

After searching the area, officers found the vehicle Aungst was allegedly driving parked in an alley behind the 400 block of Fourth Avenue, but Aungst was not with the vehicle.

Police searched the vehicle and found several documents with Aungst's name. Police informed other units of the driver's identification and shortly after, a Logan Township police officer spotted Aungst walking down First Avenue toward Fourth Street with a female.

The female denied to police that she was part of the pursuit and allegedly told them that she and Aungst had just visited a friend in the area.

An eyewitness to the chase positively identified both Aungst and the female as the two people in the vehicle being pursued by police.

Another witness told police that he observed Aungst and the female walking in the area and hiding on a porch when police cars drove past looking for them.

Both Aungst and the female were taken into custody.

A search of Aungst's person revealed an orange capped syringe. Police also noted that Aungst's driver's license was suspended for DUI-related offenses.

Aungst was charged with felony fleeing from police and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, along with reckless driving, driving while DUI suspended and careless driving.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Daniel Deantonio, Altoona, and lodged in the Blair County Prison on $10,000 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5, before Deantonio.