According to Minersville Police, on Tuesday, April 14th, 2020 around 1:20pm, officers were dispatched to the 600 block of North Front Street for a motor vehicle accident with unknown injuries.
Upon arrival Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers found multiple vehicles involved including a Jeep Renegade with severe damage.
Upon speaking to witnesses of the crash, Patrolman Bowers learned that the driver of the Jeep fled the scene leaving 2 small children, ages 7 and 8 inside the vehicle. Both children, one bleeding from the mouth, and the other with a chest injury, were being tended to by neighbors while waiting for EMS to arrive.
Patrolman Bowers pursued the driver, later identified as Gavin Heim, 25, of Minersville, between two nearby homes. Upon approaching the back stairs of the home, Heim emerged and told Bowers "I was gonna run because I'm on state parole and don't have a license".
Patrolman Bowers also detected a very strong odor of marijuana coming from Heim. Heim admitted smoking marijuana and taking a percocet the previous evening.
A search of Heim revealed marijuana residue inside his left pocket.
When Patrolman Bowers asked Heim what happened, he said he didn't know, and he just hit some parked vehicles.
A search of Heim's vehicle led to the finding of some loose marijuana on the driver's seat.
An investigation into the crash led to the finding that Heim was traveling south on North Front Street at a high rate of speed striking a parked Grand Jeep Cherokee pushing it 50 feet into two other parked vehicles.
After impact, Heim attempted to drive away but due to the damage, his vehicle was disabled to the point of full airbag deployments and loss of control.
Heim's vehicle then began to roll backwards approximately 70 feet into a parked car pushing it onto a sidewalk.
An arrest warrant was obtained on Friday, May 1st, 2020 on charges of aggravated assault while driving under the influence, accident involving personal injury while not properly licensed driving with a suspended or revoked license, endangering the welfare of children, driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless driving, not driving at a safe speed, and other traffic violations.
Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Heim is asked to contact the Minersville Police at (570) 544-2333.