Driver facing numerous charges after 3-county police chase

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, Pa. — UPDATE (5/11): An off-duty police officer spotted the suspect behind the wheel of a car he shouldn't have been driving.

That led to a 3-county police chase Thursday night.

Police are still unsure as to why Andrew Libitzer led officers on a nearly 70-mile chase. Although, police said Libitzer was known to be “elusive.”

The off-duty Vandergrift police officer spotted Libitzer behind the wheel near an intersection on Route 356 near Labelle Vue Road. When police tried to pull him over, he took off.

Channel 11 found three active warrants in Westmoreland County, two in Allegheny County, and another warrant from probation in Armstrong County. Those charges vary from traffic citations to drug charges and felony trespassing.

Officers found a crack pipe underneath the passenger seat of the car.

UPDATE 5/10:

Police arrested Andrew Libitzer after a 70-mile police chase that wound through three counties, Allegheny Township police said.

Libitzer, 31, of Spring Church faces charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, possession of drug paraphernalia, fleeing and attempting to elude police, reckless driving and driving under suspension.

Spikes were deployed multiple times to get him to stop after the chase began on the border of Allegheny and Westmoreland counties and continued out to Armstrong County, police said.

After Libitzer hit a set of spikes, he kept driving until he was stopped just before 5:30 p.m.

Libitzer had at least six warrants out for his arrest in Westmoreland and Allegheny counties alone.

ORIGINAL STORY: Dozens of police officers and vehicles surrounded a vehicle in Westmoreland County on Thursday afternoon after chasing the driver through two counties.

The chase began in Westmoreland County and continued down Route 56 toward Armstrong County.

The driver finally spun out near the Washington Township Fire Hall.

It was not immediately clear what prompted the chase.

Police have the driver in custody.

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