New Castle man nearly strikes police with vehicle during high-speed chase Saturday

A New Castle man is facing multiple charges after leading law enforcement on a high-speed chase Saturday through at least two counties and nearly striking a police officer.

State police were notified Saturday morning of a stolen vehicle being driven at a high rate of speed eastbound on Mitchell Road in Neshannock Township, Lawrence County.

An officer noticed the vehicle, later described as a white 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, and attempted to make a traffic stop. However, the SUV kept going.

State police said Thomas Reed, 38, was behind the wheel.

The pursuit continued through New Castle, Taylor Township, Ellwood City and into Beaver County on Route 288.

In Zelienople in Butler County, police set up a tire deflation device. State police said that Reed “abruptly swerved the vehicle at a Zelienople officer … narrowly missing the officer.”

The pursuit was terminated just south of Zelienople when the driver was identified, according to the police report.

The vehicle was later discovered, abandoned, in a parking lot.

Later on Saturday, Reed was arrested by Pittsburgh police in an unrelated incident and charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property and false identification to law enforcement.

He was taken to Allegheny County Jail and set to be extradited to Lawrence County.

Reed is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude officers, aggravated assault, driving at unsafe speeds, failure to obey traffic control devices, four counts of failure to perform duties at stop sign, 10 counts of recklessly endangering another person, 10 counts of failure to stop at red signal and more than 50 counts of failure to keep right.