SMETHPORT — The driver involved in a high-speed chase, exceeding 120 mph through Bradford and Foster Township and ending in Killbuck, N.Y., is back in McKean County Jail.
Patrick Thomas Fuhr, 64, was arrested and held by the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Department, and was returned to McKean County after District Judge Rich Luther issued a warrant for his arrest earlier this week.
Fuhr was out on bail for another matter when the chase occurred, District Attorney Stephanie Vettenberg-Shaffer confirmed. He is now in McKean County Jail, held on $500,000 straight bail following his arraignment before Luther on Wednesday. He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 18.
In addition to the charges he faces in Cattaraugus County, N.Y., Fuhr is charged now in McKean County with 10 first- and second-degree felonies related to aggravated assault, a third-degree felony for fleeing or attempting to elude an officer; second-degree misdemeanors for flight to avoid apprehension and resisting arrest and six counts of reckless endangerment; and 75 lesser charges.
According to reports, Fuhr failed to stop when Pennsylvania State Police attempted to make a traffic stop at 1:29 a.m. Jan. 2 in the area of Main and High streets in Bradford, using emergency lights and sirens on a patrol car.
Reports state the vehicle Fuhr was driving had a dealer plate that did not belong to it and Fuhr did not have a registration, inspection, driver’s license, or any other document to show the plate belonged to the vehicle. He then led police on a 22-mile, multi-state pursuit, according to police reports.
Fuhr reportedly “rammed his vehicle into the driver’s side door” of a PSP vehicle and caused damage. No injuries were sustained by either of the two troopers in the vehicle at the time of the incident. Troopers indicated in their reports that Fuhr refused to stop the vehicle, which created a substantial risk of approximately four passenger vehicles not involved in the incident, “placing the occupants … in danger of death or serious bodily injury.”
Bradford City Police Chief Michael Ward said, “This was a great example of teamwork leading to a successful arrest. My hat goes off to the PSP trooper involved as it was a dangerous situation in which his vehicle suffered damage. The trooper and the officers involved used good judgment in my opinion and did what was necessary to protect others and apprehend the individual involved.”
Shaffer said the case is pending in the matter for which Fuhr had been out on bail when the chase occurred.
In August 2023, Fuhr was charged with a third-degree felony for receiving stolen property; misdemeanor use or possession of drug paraphernalia; misdemeanor intent to possess controlled substance by a person not registered; and five summary traffic charges including driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked. He had been released on $50,000 bail. The case has been in pre-trial status for several months. On Dec. 29, Fuhr’s previous case was issued a last day to plead for 10 a.m. Jan. 11. However, on Jan. 8, a motion for continuance was filed, and Jan. 9, the court ordered a new last day to plead for 10 a.m. Feb. 1.
