Brookville Man Facing Charges After Fleeing Police

BROOKVILLE, Pa. (EYT) – A Brookville man is accused of fleeing Brookville Police during a pursuit late last month in the borough.

Court documents indicate the Brookville Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 21-year-old Zephaniah A. Vickers, of Brookville.

According to a criminal complaint, Officers Miller and Gallagher were traveling west on Main Street near the intersection of Franklin Avenue around 10:52 p.m. on Friday, April 27, when they observed a white Nissan Altima sedan traveling east with “windows tinted so dark they couldn’t see the driver or occupants under the street lights.”

Officer Miller, who was driving, turned around in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop on the vehicle. While attempting to catch up to it, Office Gallagher advised Officer Miller that the vehicle belonged to Zephaniah Vickers.

The vehicle continued on Main Street and then made a left turn on to Richards Street. Officer Gallagher called the incident into Jefferson County 9-1-1, and the cruiser’s lights and siren were activated in an attempt to stop the vehicle.

According to the complaint, the vehicle “seemed to speed up” before making a right turn onto Short Street, then an immediate left onto High Street, and another left into a driveway.

As the vehicle came to a stop, the male driver exited, put his hands up, and began to walk away.

Officer Miller gave the driver several commands to stop, and then drew his Taser and walked toward the driver. Officer Miller was then able to get ahold of him as the driver, later identified as Zeph Vickers, started to walk into the yard of a nearby residence.

According to the complaint, Officer Miller grabbed Vickers’ jacket and ordered him to stop and come back to the car, but Vickers allegedly pulled away several times. Officer Miller again drew his Taser and ordered Vickers to stop and put his hands behind his back, but Vickers refused to comply. The complaint states that Officer Miller then deployed his Taser and struck Vickers in the back. Vickers then fell to the ground and was handcuffed.

Officer Miller read Vickers his Miranda Warnings, but Vickers refused to answer any questions without a lawyer present.

Vickers was searched prior to being placed in the patrol car. No contraband or weapons were found on him.

As the officers were speaking with Vickers, a passenger got out of the vehicle. The passenger, a known man, told police that he didn’t know Vickers very well, and was just getting a ride. The man said that he saw the police lights and then Vickers said, “[expletive], cops,” and “floored it.” The man said that he saw the lights, but Vickers wouldn’t stop, even though the man told him to, according to the complaint.

EMS was called the scene to evaluate Vickers. He was evaluated and signed a patient refusal form.

According to the complaint, Vickers then apologized for the incident and said that he should have stopped, he “just wasn’t thinking.”

Vickers was arraigned on the following charges at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 28, in Magisterial District Judge Gregory M Bazylak’s office:

– Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Officer, Misdemeanor 2
– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2
– Careless Driving, Summary
– Improper Sunscreening, Summary
– Driving at Safe Speed, Summary

Vickers is currently free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, with Judge Bazylak presiding.


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