State police have charged a Scottdale, Pa., man with various drug and endangerment counts after he is alleged to have led police on a high-speed chase through Fayette and Westmoreland counties late Friday.

Police have charged Jodie Shane Howell, 40, with fleeing and eluding police, drug possession, DUI, reckless endangerment and several other criminal counts and traffic citations.

Police said the chase started around 10:40 p.m. in Connellsville, when Mr. Howell "failed to stop [after police] activated emergency lights."

He led police north on state Route 119, sometimes driving on the wrong side of the highway, "with speeds exceeding 100 mph at times and with Howell's vehicle nearly striking several oncoming" cars.

When the chase ended on Route 119 near the Interstate 70 overpass in New Stanton, Mr. Howell, according police, fled the vehicle on foot. When he was captured, he was "found to have a mouthful of suspected crack cocaine and initially refused to spit it out."

Drugs were also recovered from the roadway and from the front seat of Mr. Howell's car, police said. He was taken to Forbes Regional Hospital in Monroeville, and is awaiting arraignment, police said.

Anyone who was traveling on Route 119 and witnessed the police chase is asked to contact Cpl. Brian Mears at (724) 439-7111. 

First Published: March 1, 2014, 3:32 p.m.