EBENSBURG —
Cambria County sheriff’s deputies found themselves in a foot chase Tuesday after a cousin of the man killed by Johnstown police late last month bolted from the courthouse.
Cambria County District Attorney Kelly Callihan said that Cierra Clinton of Johnstown showed up at the courthouse for a pretrial conference on charges unrelated to the shooting of Elip Cheatham early on June 25. Clinton ran after learning there was a bench warrant for her arrest.
“She missed a hearing and apparently there was a bench warrant on her. She got wind of it and fled the courthouse,” Callihan said.
Clinton took off on foot before sheriff’s deputies realized her bond had been revoked and she should have been headed to jail, Cambria County Sheriff Robert Kolar said.
The charges that brought Clinton to the courthouse were not immediately known Tuesday.
Clinton is the sister of Cardell “CJ” Clinton, 20, whose shooting brought police into the incident that ultimately led to Cheatham’s death in the city’s West End.
“CJ” Clinton was shot outside a bar, Edder’s Den, allegedly by Shy-Tyquon Lawton.
A short time later, Cheatham, 27, was shot multiple times by city police and suffered a fatal chest wound.
Three police officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of an investigation now under way by Pennsylvania State Police.
Kolar said Cierra Clinton got as far as the intersection of routes 22 and 219 before she was spotted by authorities who gave chase.
“She took off running toward the woods and they were able to catch her,” Kolar said.
Following her apprehension by deputies, Cierra Clinton was lodged in the Cambria County Prison.
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