Man accused of fleeing after trying to break into house

An Evans City man is facing charges for trying to break into a condemned house in Franklin and then fleeing from police in downtown Monday afternoon.

Franklin police said in a criminal complaint they were called at about 3:45 p.m. Monday to 729 Wiley Ave. for reports of a possible burglary in progress.

The complaint says that before the police officer reached the scene he observed a purple pickup truck matching the description of the vehicle involved in the attempted burglary being driven on Parkway Street by Dan Getty, 24.

The officer noted the vehicle had an expired inspection sticker, so he turned on his lights and sirens to stop the vehicle, the complaint said.

Getty drove down Sibley Avenue and after stopping at a stop sign turned onto Liberty Street and continued without stopping, the complaint said.

When a second Franklin officer tried to stop Getty by pulling in front of him, Getty drove around the cruiser and a stop sign, onto the sidewalk, and then onto 15th Street before continuing onto the 1400 block of Liberty, the complaint said.

He again drove onto the sidewalk and yards of nearby houses to enter a private driveway at 1421 Liberty where he parked his vehicle, leaving it running, and fled on foot, according to the complaint.

Getty fled through the 1400 block of Buffalo Street, Chestnut Street, and New Street before he was apprehended and arrested, the complaint said.

The complaint notes that Getty’s vehicle had bald tires, didn’t have a valid registration, no proof of insurance was provided and Getty didn’t have a valid driver’s license.

Getty was charged with felony counts of criminal attempt- burglary-not adapted for overnight accommodation, no person present, criminal trespass-break into structure and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, misdemeanor counts of flight to avoid apprehension/trial/punishment and resisting arrest, and 11 summary traffic and vehicle code violations.

He was arraigned Monday and placed in the Venango County jail with bail denied due to him being a flight risk.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 18 in Central Court.