BARKEYVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — According to Polk Borough Police, three men are facing charges following a traffic stop last week in Barkeyville for safety violations.

According to police, around 3:40 p.m. on Thursday, August 9, the Polk Borough Police Department received a call from a known individual who stated that he was behind two vehicles that were hauling scrap on State Route 208 west into Barkeyville. The caller reported that a large piece of metal fell off of the dump truck ahead of him, and he had to swerve to miss being struck by it.

Sargeant Heller was waiting near the intersection of State Route 8 and State Route 208. Both of the scrap hauling vehicles pulled off the roadway at the intersection, and Sargeant Heller pulled in front of the vehicles with his emergency lights activated.

The driver of the first vehicle, 30-year-old Steven Johnson of Polk, approached Sargeant Heller and began speaking with him. As they were talking, the driver of the dump truck exited his vehicle and ran off on foot.

Sargeant Heller called for backup and conducted a search of the business the man ran toward before going back to speak to Johnson about the driver’s information. Johnson told police that the driver was Charles Gehr of Grove City.

Sargeant Heller asked the caller to watch the area where Gehr fled, and the caller indicated that Gehr jumped into a black Jeep Liberty heading east on State Route 208 at a high rate of speed. Police checked the area but were unable to locate the vehicle.

The PSP Motor Carrier Division then arrived at the scene, inspected the vehicles, and determined several violations on Steven Johnson’s vehicle, as well as violations on the dump truck owned by his brother, Todd Johnson.

Grove City Police Department was notified to look out for a black Jeep Liberty, and the vehicle was found later that evening at a motel in Grove City. Sargeant Heller and officers of the Grove City Police Department spoke to the females from the Jeep who eventually advised them of Gehr’s location.

Mercer Borough Police picked Gehr up at a residence for a bench warrant out of Crawford County. He was lodged in the Mercer County Jail and then transferred to the Crawford County Jail where he remains lodged.

Polk Borough Police are filing the following charges against Gehr: flight to avoid apprehension, securing loads in vehicles, and driving while operating privilege is suspended.

Police say both Johnsons will also receive multiple citations for the vehicles.

Polk Borough Police also responded to an unresponsive male in a vehicle in the middle of the road on State Route 3005 in Clinton Township, around 9:02 p.m. on Thursday, August 9.

Officer Deeter discovered that 30-year-old Steven Johnson, of Polk, was unresponsive in the driver’s seat with drug paraphernalia next to him, according to police.

DUI and drug paraphernalia charges are pending blood results, police say.