Washington Township man accused of leading police on 115 mph chase, drug possession

Paul Peirce | Saturday, May 22, 2021 7:30 a.m.

Metro Creative

A Washington Township man was jailed after police say he led them on a several-mile chase that reached 115 miles per hour.

James D. Higgins, 40, was arrested in the garage of his home after the 2:27 a.m. Wednesday chase along routes 66 and 366, according to court documents filed by township police Patrolman Kenneth Sebastian.

Police called off the pursuit because of safety concerns.

Sebastian said officers confiscated baggies of methamphetamine and marijuana in the garage that, they say, Higgins admitted were his.

Sebastian reported he was on patrol in the vicinity of routes 66 and 380 when he saw Higgins speed out of the parking lot of the Honey Bear Market in the 4200 block of Route 66 in a 2020 Toyota Corolla.

According to court documents, Sebastian activated his emergency lights and siren, but Higgins refused to pull over. Instead, he continued on to Route 366. Sebastian reported that speeds during the pursuit reached 115 mph before he called it off.

Sebastian said he contacted Murrysville police for assistance and they obtained information that Higgins resides in the 5400 block of Greensburg Road, as that section of Route 366 is known locally.

Sebastian said police spotted Higgins’ car parked in the vicinity of his house and noticed someone inside the garage.

Police formed a perimeter around the residence and Higgins surrendered without incident, Sebastian said. Police said that, during an interview, Higgins admitted he had contraband in the garage.

Police obtained a search warrant and confiscated two plastic baggies containing methamphetamine inside the garage as well as two plastic bags containing marijuana, two digital scales, an unspecified amount of cash and drug packaging materials. Police also seized an ashtray in the garage that contained methamphetamine, Sebastian reported.

Higgins is charged with driving at an unsafe speed, fleeing and eluding police, manufacturing and delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and reckless driving.

He is being held in the Westmoreland County jail on $100,000 bond.

He did not have an attorney listed in court documents. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 7.

After an incident Oct. 23, Higgins was arrested by township police on charges of criminal mischief, harassment and simple assault. A hearing in that case has been continued several times; it is scheduled for July 12.