Escapee from Derry Township youth home charged with assaulting Latrobe police chief
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A court-ordered ward from a Derry Township youth home who escaped Tuesday was ordered held in the county prison after allegedly headbutting Latrobe police Chief John Sleasman during her arrest, according to state police.
Caitlin Elaine Harkins-Shirley, 18, who is an adjudicated ward at Adelphoi’s Susan House, was discovered hiding under a kayak along the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue by Sleasman just before 11 a.m., according to state Trooper Jason Kinger.
State troopers and city police had been searching for Harkins-Shirley since she escaped from the facility earlier Tuesday morning.
“While attempting to arrest (Harkins-Shirley) … she was flailing around on the ground and did not comply with lawful demands given by law enforcement officers,” Kinger wrote.
Kinger said the teen attempted to “head-butt” Sleasman as she was placed in handcuffs and taken into custody. Kinger said Harkins-Shirley admitted the incident when questioned, according to court records.
Sleasman was not injured, reports said.
Harkins-Shirley is charged with aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, escape and harassment by state police. She was ordered held in the county prison after failing to post $20,000 bond set by District Judge Mark Bilik.