Traffic Stop Leads to Arrest of Oil City Man on Firearms, DUI-Drug Charges

| February 22, 2018

SUGARCREEK BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) – A traffic stop in Sugarcreek Borough led to the arrest of an Oil City man on firearms and DUI-controlled substance charges.

Court documents indicate the Sugarcreek Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 26-year-old Joshua Allen Sjoden, of Oil City.

According to a criminal complaint, around 9:06 p.m. on Sunday, February 4, Patrolman Johnson saw a black Ford SUV turn out of Sheetz and accelerate hard. He followed the vehicle for a half mile at 56 miles per hour in a posted 45 mile per hour zone. The vehicle was making multiple lane changes abruptly as it passed cars, not maintaining its lane upon crossing, at times using his turn signal, other times he did not.

Patrolman Johnson turned on his lights and siren, and the driver abruptly applied the vehicle’s brakes and pulled over on the left-hand side of Elk Street.

The driver was identified as Joshua Sjoden, of Oil City.

It was observed that Sjoken’s eyes were extremely pinpointed, and they did not react at all when his flashlight was moved across his face. He also had a noticeable tremor in his hands, and his speech was fast, but not nervous.

Sjoden’s name was run through 911, and his driver’s license came back suspended, and he also had an active warrant.

Two Franklin officers arrived to assist.

Due to Sjoden’s behavior, he was asked to perform field sobriety tests, which he agreed to do.

After the tests were performed, Sjoden was advised that he had not performed well, and officers would be taking him into custody for the suspicion of a DUI of a controlled substance. Sjoden said “that he had not been drinking. He then stated that he had injected suboxone the night prior, but was unsure of the current time,” according to the complaint.

After Sjoden was placed in the back of the police vehicle, police conducted a search of the vehicle and found a Smith and Wesson M&P 9 mm handgun in the center console. The magazine was loaded with eight rounds. The officer removed the magazine and ensured the weapon was clear. The precursory check through dispatch was that the weapon was not reported as stolen and belongs to a known individual, the complaint states.

Sjoden consented to a blood draw at UPMC.

He was then escorted to the Venango County Jail.

A criminal history report showed that Sjoden was a person not to possess a firearm. The blood test results came back positive for fentanyl.

Based on the investigation, Sjoden was arraigned at 2:20 p.m. on Tuesday, February 20, in Magisterial District Judge Patrick E. Lowrey’s office on the following charges:

– Possession Of Firearm Prohibited, Felony 2
– Firearms Not To Be Carried W/O License, Felony 3
– DUI: Controlled Substance – Schedule 1 – 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
– DUI: Controlled Substance – Schedule 2 or 3 – 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
– DUI: Controlled Substance – Metabolite – 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
– Exceed Max Speed Lim Estb By 13 MPH, Summary
– Driv While Oper Priv Susp Or Revoked, Summary
– Driving W/O A License, Summary

Unable to post $25,000.00 cash bail, he was lodged at the Venango County Jail.

A preliminary hearing scheduled for 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28, with Judge Lowrey presiding.


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Category: Local News, News, Police & Fire Calls