Published: February 27, 2008 10:06 pm      

Fleeing suspect who called 911 is charged

A Stonycreek Township, Cambria County, man who called 911 for help after becoming lost and cold in the woods while fleeing police will face county court action on charges of evading police.

His girlfriend, who was with him, also will face court action on charges she hindered the apprehension of her boyfriend by giving police a false name for the man.

Brian Craig Woy Jr., 25, of the 1200 block of Florida Avenue, and Jodi Lynn Wilson, 26, of the Solomon Homes, waived their rights to a preliminary hearing Tuesday before District Judge Michael Musulin of downtown Johnstown.

Johnstown police said an officer was monitoring traffic on Cooper Avenue about 2 a.m. Feb. 16 when Woy’s inbound vehicle started to leave the road, nearly striking his cruiser.

When the officer tried to stop the vehicle, Woy reportedly fled, with the officer pursuing him onto Laurel Avenue, Strayer Street and then Decker Avenue.

The officer had to stop pursuing Woy at the upper end of Decker when road conditions became unsuitable for a cruiser, police said. Woy, driving a sport utility vehicle, was able to continue but eventually his vehicle came to rest against a tree.

Another officer arrived with a four-wheel-drive vehicle and officers continued up the hill to Woy’s SUV.

Police said officers tracked footprints in the snow and found Wilson, who told them she only knew the driver as Frank and that he was just giving her a ride home from work.

Later police determined that Wilson was Woy’s girlfriend.

Police failed to find Woy and were clearing the scene when they learned Woy had called the Cambria 911 Center on a cell phone.

With temperatures hovering in the teens, Woy said he wanted to turn himself in because he was lost and cold.

Police then were able to find and arrest him.