Oil City Man Who Stole Car, Led Police on High Speed Chase Due in Court Tomorrow

| September 10, 2019

OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – An Oil City man who is accused of stealing a car and then leading officers on a high-speed pursuit is scheduled to stand for a hearing in court tomorrow.

According to court documents, 46-year-old Thomas David Linch is scheduled to stand for a hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11.

He faces the following charges:

– Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Felony 3
– Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Felony 3
– Receiving Stolen Property, Felony 3
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Reckless Driving, Summary
– Drive Wrong Way, Summary
– Failure To Keep Right, Summary
– Improper Pass, Summary

The charges stem from a theft that occurred in Oil City on August 30 involving Thomas Linch.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Officer Anderson, the Oil City Police Department received a call regarding a stolen motor vehicle from the State Street Family Dollar around 4:15 p.m. on August 30.

Officer Anderson responded to the Family Dollar area. While speaking to the vehicle owner, it was seen traveling on Front Street onto the Veteran’s Memorial Bridge in view of Officer Anderson. He notified all other officers that the vehicle was en route toward the police station.

Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle in the downtown Oil City area; however, the vehicle picked up speed and failed to stop for officers, according to the complaint.

A high-speed pursuit was initiated by Patrolmen McDevitt and Anderson.

The vehicle traveled from Seneca Street, left onto Sycamore Street in the wrong direction on a one-way street, up to Spring Street, and left onto Plummer. On Plummer, the vehicle passed a vehicle going up the hill on the left-hand side in a no-passing zone.

The vehicle continued to run from police officers and stopped in the 200 Block of Colbert Avenue.

A foot pursuit was then taken place where Officer Anderson was able to apprehend two juvenile passengers. The passengers were taken back to the station and interviewed. Both passengers positively identified the driver as Thomas Linch, the complaint states.

Linch was arraigned at 2:42 p.m. on September 3 in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office.

Unable to post $50,000.00 monetary bail, he remains lodged in the Venango County Jail.

Linch is also facing misdemeanor charges stemming from an incident involving a theft from a motor vehicle that occurred on August 31. Charges were filed on September 9 regarding this case.


Copyright © 2024 EYT Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of the contents of this service without the express written consent of EYT Media Group, Inc. is expressly prohibited.

Category: Local News, News, Police & Fire Calls