Wyoming Man Waives Hearing on Charges Related to DUI Crash in Oil City, Struggle with Police

| December 5, 2019

OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – A man accused in a DUI crash in Oil City over the weekend waived his preliminary hearing in court on Wednesday.

Court documents indicate the following charges against 55-year-old Frank Paul Baron, of Alpine, Wyoming, were waived for court on Wednesday, December 4:

– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforce, Misdemeanor 2
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2
– Disorder Conduct Hazardous/Physi Offense, , Misdemeanor 3
– DUI: Gen Imp/Inc of Driving Safely – 1st Offense, Misdemeanor
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Reckless Driving, Summary
– Disregard Traffic Lane (Prohibited), Summary
– Fail To Keep Right, Summary
– Fail to Yield Right, Summary
– Drive Unregist Vehicle, Summary
– Limitations on Driving on Left Side of Road, Summary

The charges have been transferred to the Venango County Court of Common Pleas.

Unable to post $1,500.00 monetary bail, Baron remains lodged in the Venango County Jail.

The charges stem from an incident that occurred in Oil City on December 1.

Details of the case:

According to a criminal complaint, around 10:16 p.m. on Sunday, December 1, Oil City Police were dispatched to the area of Main Street and Relief Street for a two vehicle accident.

Police found a black pick up truck with a Wyoming registration and a semi truck in the middle of the roadway with damage.

According to the complaint, Officer Anderson spoke to a witness who stated she was driving behind the semi truck, coming north on Main Street, when the black pickup truck had come southbound around the bend in the road on the left side of the roadway. The witness said the semi swerved to the left to attempt to avoid a collision, but the pickup cut right and struck the side of the semi.

Officer Anderson then spoke to the driver of the semi. According to the complaint, the driver reported he was traveling north when the pickup came around a bend in his lane of travel. He said he swerved to miss the pickup, but it still struck him on the passenger side gas tank, which caused diesel fuel to spill on the road.

The complaint notes members of the fire department advised Officer Anderson that when they arrived at the scene, the driver of the pickup truck was running on the roadway, trying to catch his dog which had gotten out of his vehicle.

Officer Anderson then made contact with the driver of the pickup truck, identified as Frank Paul Baron.

According to the complaint, Baron immediately stated “it wasn’t his fault” and said the semi had run into him. When asked why his vehicle was in the left lane and on the left side of the truck, Baron allegedly ignored the question and stated again that he was the one who washout.

The complaint notes Baron had slurred speech and bloodshot/glossy eyes, and Officer Anderson could smell an odor of alcohol on him.

Officer Anderson then asked Baron to walk with him to the sidewalk, and Baron said he just wanted to call a friend to come pick up his dog. Officer Anderson then advised Baron they would figure something out for the dog, and said he needed to walk to the side and get off the road. According to the complaint, Baron then told Officer Anderson he “got him.”

The complaint notes when asked how much alcohol he had consumed, Baron stated “a little bit.” After being asked again to go with Officer Anderson to the sidewalk and refusing, Baron was advised that if he didn’t comply, he’d be immediately arrested for driving under the influence, Baron complied and walked to the sidewalk. According to the complaint, he had to be helped to the sidewalk and nearly fell over.

Once they reached the sidewalk, Baron was asked to submit to Standard Field Sobriety Tests, and Baron refused. He was then placed under arrest.

According to the complaint, while being handcuffed Baron tried to stiffen his arms so he could not be handcuffed, but stopped a short time later and allowed the handcuffs to be placed. He was then transported to UPMC Northwest for a blood draw, but refused the testing.

Officer Anderson then applied for and was granted a search warrant by Judge Fish. Baron allegedly told Officer Anderson that if he had to give blood he “would fight.” The complaint notes he walked into UPMC and was initially compliant, but once UPMC security and nurses were in the room, he said again that he “was going to fight if we tried to draw blood.”

Baron was asked to remove his jacket for the blood draw, and allegedly refused. Officer Anderson then forcefully removed Baron from his seat, and Baron allegedly tensed up and wouldn’t allow his arms to be moved, while making statements including “you f******” and “f*** you”.

Officer Anderson and one of the security personnel attempted to use hands on techniques to keep Baron still, but he began to overpower them, and Officer Anderson did a “drive-stun” to the back of Baron’s leg with his taser. According to the complaint, Baron then laughed and told Officer Anderson to “do it again” while continuing to fight. Officer Anderson did a second “drive-stun” and Baron then allegedly stated “he was done.”

However, according to the complaint Baron continued to resist, and it finally took Officer Anderson and five hospital staff members to hold him down while his blood was drawn.

Following the blood draw, Baron was transported back to the Oil City Police Department without further incident.

He was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish at 11:15 a.m. on Monday, December 2.


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