Police Arrest Transient Man for Allegedly Escaping From Halfway House

| August 6, 2022

OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – Oil City Police arrested a wanted transient man for allegedly escaping from a halfway house.

According to court documents, the Oil City Police Department filed criminal charges against 29-year-old Shawn Paul Powell in Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish’s office on Monday, August 1.

According to a criminal complaint, on August 1 Oil City Police were advised of a wanted person, Shawn Powell, who was reported to be in the area of 339 Washington Avenue, in Oil City, Venango County.

A description of Powell was provided to officers, and it was confirmed by the Oil City Police dispatch that Powell was wanted by the PA Board of Probation and Parole. A warrant had been issued for Powell’s arrest on July 15, the complaint states.

Upon arrival, police made contact with Powell near the above-described location. Powell told police he was looking for the person who resides there. While speaking with Powell, who was known to the officer from prior law enforcement matters, he admitted to knowing he was wanted for “walking away from a halfway house,” the complaint indicates.

Powell was then taken into custody without incident.

A search incident to arrest was conducted which led to police locating a glass smoking pipe in Powell’s left front pants pocket. He was then transported to the Oil City Police Department.

At the department, police conducted an inventory of items belonging to Powell in accordance with the policy and procedure of the department. While conducting the inventory, police also located an open package for Buprenorphine Sublingual Film, which also contained a piece of the said film, according to the complaint.

Powell was arraigned at 9:20 a.m. on August 1 in front of Judge Fish on the following charges:

– Flight To Avoid Apprehension/Trial/Punishment, Felony 3
– Int Poss Contr Subst By Per Not Reg, Misdemeanor
– Use/Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor

Unable to post $25,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Venango County Prison.

A preliminary hearing is slated for Wednesday, August 10, at 8:30 a.m., in Venango County Central Court with Judge Fish presiding. 


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Category: Local News, News, Police & Fire Calls

Jacob Deemer is a reporter for EYT Media Group, who is based out of Venango County. He started his career as a sports writer for a local newspaper before contributing to TheHockeyWriters.com as a beat writer for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has spent over 6 years covering sports, crime, and local news in Venango, Clarion, and Jefferson Counties.
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