Authorities Seeking DuBois Man Who Escaped Police Custody

policeREYNOLDSVILLE, Pa. (EYT) — A 30-year-old DuBois man is a fugitive from justice after he escaped police custody in the early-morning hours Tuesday after trying to burglarize a store in downtown Reynoldsville.

Reynoldsville Borough Police have a warrant for the arrest of 30-year-old Justin Earl Craig after he was taken into custody early Tuesday morning.

Craig was charged with the following offenses before Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana:

  • Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, Person Present, Felony 1
  • Criminal Attempt – Burglary – Overnight Accommodation, Person Present, Felony 1
  • Criminal Attempt – Poss Instrument Of Crime W/Intent, Misdemeanor 1
  • Loitering And Prowling At Night Time, Misdemeanor 3
  • Flight To Avoid Apprehension/Trial/Punishment, Felony 3
  • Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforce, Misdemeanor 2
  • Theft By Unlawful Taking-Movable Property, Misdemeanor 2
  • Receiving Stolen Property, Misdemeanor 2
  • Criminal Mischief – Damage Property

Craig is a white male listed at 5-feet-6-inches, 160 pounds, with blue eyes and brown hair.

Reynoldsville Borough Police Sgt. Bruce Cramer was off duty, but on call, when he was called in after the owner of the Reynoldsville Hardware Store called 911 to report she could hear someone trying to gain entrance through the back door.

Cramer arrived at the back of the store and noticed a male with dark shorts and a dark-colored sweatshirt walking down the stairs behind the hardware store. The male had long, shoulder-length brownish hair that was in a small ponytail.

Cramer announced himself as a police officer, but the man continued walking west through the alley, then ran from the scene. The man ran past Dave’s Bar and made a left onto South Third Street.

Cramer didn’t see where the man went and was walking back toward the hardware store when a Silver Volvo pulled out of the parking lot between George’s Hot Dogs and Glass Erectors and made a left onto Main Street, traveling west at a high rate of speed.

Pa. State Troopers Knight and Mitchell were traveling east on Main Street and passed the Volvo. They stopped, and Cramer told them the Volvo was involved with the burglary. Knight and Mitchell were able to stop the Volvo near the ballfields in Falls Creek.

Cramer joined the troopers in Falls Creek and identified the driver as Craig, who said he was just driving around.

Craig didn’t want the officers to search his vehicle, and it was later towed by Jewell’s Towing. Craig was placed in handcuffs, placed in the back seat of the police car, and taken to the Reynoldsville Police Station. Craig was read his rights, agreed to talk with Cramer, but denied doing anything wrong.

Before being taken to Jefferson County Jail, Craig asked to smoke a cigarette. Cramer took Craig to the balcony of the police station. Craig was cooperative and after finishing his cigarette, Cramer took Craig back into the station.

At that point, Craig, while being handcuffed, shut the door on Cramer. Cramer pushed the door open, and Craig ran down a hallway, which was a dead end.

Cramer then placed handcuffs on Craig and placed him in the back seat of the police car. Cramer noticed he had forgot his keys and ran upstairs to get them. Cramer said he was gone about 30 seconds, but when he returned, Craig had managed to slip through a half-opened window and fled the scene.

A search for Craig was made, but without success, and a BOLO (Be on the Lookout) was issued for Craig.


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