All 95 counts against an Ellicottville, N.Y., man for a two-state, high-speed chase in January were bound to McKean County Court at a hearing Wednesday by District Judge Rich Luther.
Patrick Fuhr, 64, is charged with 10 counts of aggravated assault, four first-degree felonies and six second-degree felonies; one count of fleeing or eluding, a third-degree felony; one count of false display of a dealership tag, a first-degree misdemeanor; six counts of recklessly endangering another person, second-degree misdemeanors; one count each of flight to avoid apprehension and resisting arrest, second-degree misdemeanors; and 75 summary traffic offenses.
According to the criminal complaint, the incident began Jan. 2 on Boylston Street in Bradford with two state troopers, Hunter Freer and Rex Martin. The troopers were conducting regular patrol with Martin as the driver and Freer as the front-seat passenger. Observing several violations with Fuhr’s car, the troopers attempted a traffic stop. Instead, the car sped away through the City of Bradford, at one point turning in the parking lot of Valu Home Center on East Main Street. The car left the parking lot and struck the troopers’ car, and again left at a high rate of speed, the complaint stated.
Fuhr’s car made it onto Davis Street, traveling north, and entered the U.S. Route 219 expressway, continuing at speeds of approximately 120 mph. The pursuit entered New York state, where members of the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office deployed spike strips, puncturing the tires of Fuhr’s car. The car continued for several miles. After a 22-mile pursuit, the car was successfully stopped by members of the sheriff’s department, the complaint stated.
Fuhr was taken into custody in New York and was extradited to Pennsylvania to face charges. During the pursuit, there were four passenger vehicles that were not involved in the pursuit but were endangered by Fuhr’s actions, the complaint stated.
Fuhr remains in McKean County Jail on $500,000 bail. He is represented by Warren attorney Alan Conn.
