A Fayette County man wanted on forgery charges is accused of hitting a Pennsylvania state trooper with his car early Tuesday, then leading police on a high-speed car chase that ended when he took off on foot into the woods, officials said.
Pete Robert Lancaster, 28, of Uniontown is being held at Fayette County Prison, court records show. He was unable to post a monetary bail set at $100,000.
Around 1:30 a.m., state troopers attempted to pull Lancaster over near Route 40 in Farmington, police said.
“Before they even pulled him over, he pulled into a random driveway,” Trooper Robert Broadwater told Trib news partner WPXI. “The operator of the vehicle put it in reverse at a high rate of speed, striking one of our troopers in the leg.”
Troopers caught up with Lancaster and a chase ensued on Kentuck Road, with Lancaster driving faster than 100 mph, according to police.
Lancaster then parked, got out of his car and ran into some woods, officials said.
Police said they found counterfeit money and a small amount of marijuana in his car and apprehended him shortly afterward.
A warrant already had been issued for Lancaster’s arrest related to forgery charges, court records show.
About 7:15 a.m. Tuesday, Lancaster was arraigned on 31 counts — including one felony count of aggravated assault, 15 felony counts of forgery and two felony counts for fleeing law enforcement, records show.
He also was charged with a DUI and drug possession and cited for several traffic offenses — including reckless driving, driving while his license is suspended or revoked and driving without lights to avoid arrest.
Lancaster is scheduled to appear in court for a preliminary hearing next Thursday, April 25.
