Police pursuit begins at Sheetz after trooper almost hit by car, ends with crash into Butler home

BUTLER, Pa. — A car slammed into the front of a home during a police pursuit in Butler County late Monday night.

Neighbors who live on New Castle Road told Channel 11 they heard the crash several homes away.

“We were upstairs getting ready for bed and everything, and we heard screeching coming down the hill, and around the corner, sirens quickly following, another set of screeches,” said Evan Nolte."

After that second set of screeches, he heard a bang.

“A bang that didn’t sound like car against car, but still seemed like it could have been from the car,” Nolte said.

He expected it to be a car crash, saying they’ve happened several times at the intersection of New Castle Road and Hansen Avenue.

“There’s been like four so far this year at this intersection,” Nolte said.

But instead, it was a car into a house.

State police said the crash happened after a pursuit that began at the Sheetz on New Castle Road in Butler Township around 11:50 p.m. when troopers saw a man, later identified as Joseph Bailie, who appeared to be unconscious inside a running vehicle.

After knocking on the window and getting his attention, troopers made multiple requests for his identification. Police said that’s when he began to drive away.

State police said Bailie put his vehicle into drive and struck a concrete pole in front of him. He then shifted in reverse and accelerated at a high rate of speed, almost striking one of the troopers.

Police said Bailie eventually approached the intersection of Hansen Avenue and New Castle Street in the City of Butler. He attempted to make a right turn onto Hansen but lost control because of how fast he was driving and crashed into a home at the intersection.

Tire marks could still be seen in the grass and on the pavement near the home on Tuesday afternoon.

Troopers said Bailie then ran into the home, where he was found and taken into custody.

No one was inside the home at the time of the crash.

“[He] was lucky nobody was in their home or around where the impact was,” Nolte said.

Bailie has been charged with fleeing to elude a police officer, reckless endangering, driving under the influence and other traffic violations.

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