Claysburg Man Arrested as Crews Battle Blaze in Freedom Township

While fire crews battled a structure fire in Freedom Township on Jan. 20, Freedom Township police were making an arrest at the scene.

Just before 6:30 p.m. fire crews were called to 351 Riverview St. to find the structure fully engulfed in flames. Crews battled the blaze at the unoccupied building for approximately three hours. The building was a complete loss, and no injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, as firefighters battled the blaze, police were arresting a man who drove through the fire scene after being ordered to stop.

According to charges filed by Freedom Township police, Dylan L. Albright, 23, of Claysburg, drove his vehicle past a police protective roadblock as fire fighters worked to contain the blaze.

When police attempted to stop Albright from entering the fire scene, he allegedly sped up rapidly in an area that was active with fire fighters and citizens watching the blaze.

With police in pursuit, Albright allegedly turned into a private driveway in front of some fire equipment and turned his car's lights off.

Police said Albright then fled from the scene on foot and was found hiding in a nearby garage and taken into custody.

Albright was charged with a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police, misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person as well as a summary count of driving under a suspended license.

Albright is also facing misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, possession on marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia filed by Greenfield Township police in December.

He was arraigned by Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger and released on $40,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11 in front of Blattenberger.