Police: Venango man topped 120 mph on Route 28 after driving away from traffic stop

A Venango County man drove more than 120 mph while holding a woman against her will in his car as police pursued him on Route 28, according to state police.

Kirk Edward Heath, 43, was arraigned Monday on 19 charges, including kidnapping to facilitate a felony and fleeing or attempting to elude police, and taken to Armstrong County Jail after failing to post $100,000 bond, according to court documents.

State Trooper Jeremy Bowser said he pulled over a car driven by Heath about 5:45 p.m. Sunday just north of the Creighton exit on Route 28, but Heath drove off. Bowser said he broke off the pursuit near the Butler County line when Heath reached speeds of more than 120 mph in a gray 2002 BMW.

Another trooper reported that Heath got off Route 28 at the Slate Lick exit in North Buffalo.

Police pursued Heath’s vehicle into Ford City, where Heath left his car along Third Avenue and ran into a field near the Allegheny River, Bowser said.

Police called off a search for Heath about 11 p.m., Bowser said.

“He hid there (in the field) all night,” the trooper said.

Police caught up with a woman who had been in Heath’s car, and she told them that Heath had assaulted her and wouldn’t let her out of the car, Bowser said.

“She said she tried calling police but he knocked the phone out of her hand,” Bowser said, adding that the woman got out of the car at one point when Heath stopped.

Police were tipped off Monday morning that Heath was in a Ford City tobacco shop, and they arrested him there without incident, Bowser said. Police found suspected crystal meth and heroin in Heath’s car, Bowser said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 26 before District Judge Gary DeComo in Ford City.