OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) — A Franklin man is lodged in the Venango County Jail after he allegedly fled authorities who were attempting to serve a Domestic Relations warrant in Oil City.

Court documents indicate the Venango County Sheriff’s Department filed criminal charges against Keith Kaiser, 22, of Franklin, on Tuesday, January 8.

According to a criminal complaint, around 8:37 a.m. on December 5, Deputy Hollidge made contact with a known male via phone who contacted him the previous day about information regarding Keith Kaiser, who had an active bench warrant through the Venango County Domestic Relations Office.

The complaint states Deputy Hollidge was also aware that Kaiser had probation and parole warrants through Butler County, as well.

According to the complaint, the known male advised that Kaiser had been living at a Siverly Avenue residence in Oil City during the week and sometimes went to Butler during the weekend.

After receiving the information, Deputy Hollidge contacted Oil City Police dispatch via phone to advise them of the information and ask them to send an officer to assist in attempting to serve the warrant.

Before getting off the phone with dispatch, Deputy Hollidge provided them with Kaiser’s current location as well as his description.

While traveling to the agreed location, Deputy Hollidge heard Oil City dispatch relay the information over the radio to officers and heard the officers respond back saying they just saw a male with gray pants and a yellow shirt run from the residence in question. The officers continued to give updates via radio about where the male, who was later identified as Keith Kaiser, was running.

According to the complaint, at approximately 9:02 a.m., Deputy Hollidge was in the area of Colbert Avenue when he received a phone call from a male who identified himself as Keith Kaiser.

Kaiser asked Deputy Hollidge if officers were in the Oil City area looking for him.

According to the complaint, Deputy Hollidge advised Kaiser that multiple units were currently looking for him as he had taken off running from his residence. Kaiser then stated he was nowhere near Oil City and was at a residence on Perry Highway in Clarion. He then asked how he could take care of his warrant.

Deputy Hollidge advised Kaiser that he needed to state his exact location, and he would then meet him there. Kaiser responded by repeatedly stating that he was at a residence in Clarion and was about to leave to go to Butler, according to the complaint.

Deputy Hollidge advised Kaiser that he should not go to Butler and needed to meet him somewhere.

Deputy Hollidge was then contacted by Officer Deloe, of the Oil City Police Department, who stated that the occupants of a Glenview Avenue residence verified that Kaiser ran into their house and was hiding in the attic area. Officer Deloe said that the occupants of the house gave the officers permission to search the residence.

Deputy Hollidge then arrived at the Glenview Avenue residence, where he was the first to enter, followed by Deputy Williams and then Officer Deloe.

According to the complaint, the occupants of the house stated that Kaiser had run upstairs, and once the officers arrived at the house, he went into the attic. The officers then proceeded to the upstairs area where they began searching for Kaiser.

Deputy Hollidge located the door and stairs to the attic area, and Kaiser was then found and taken into custody from the attic.

Kaiser was arraigned at 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 8, in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish on the following charge:

• Flight To Avoid Apprehension/Trial/Punishment, Felony 3

He was lodged in the Venango County Jail after failing to post $15,000.00 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing before Judge Fish is scheduled for January 30 at 8:30 a.m.