A 32-year-old Centralia man is being held in the Marion County Jail for domestic battery, resisting arrest, obstructing an officer, possession of methamphetamine, and possession of a controlled substance after allegedly hiding in a crawl space under a Salem home for more than two and a half hours Wednesday afternoon.
Salem Police Chief Kyle Ambuehl says Gregory Pocrnich of Case Street went under a vacant home in the 300 block of East Oglesby when running from officers who attempted to stop him following a reported domestic disturbance at a home in the 300 block of West Olive.
Police fired two deployments of OC gas into the crawl space before Pocrnich came out on his own. He was taken to Salem Township Hospital for treatment in the emergency room from the effects of the OC gas before being transferred to the Marion County Jail.
Ambuehl says Pocrnich’s girlfriend who reportedly lived in the home on West Olive Street refused treatment from EMS on the scene.
Salem Police were first called to the domestic disturbance during the noon hour. After walking away from the scene before police arrived, Pocrnich was reportedly spotted walking in the 700 block of North Broadway where he allegedly ran on foot before crawling under the home. The ordeal ended at 2:52 Wednesday afternoon.
This story updates to indicate Pocrnich was also arrested for possession of methamphetamine and a controlled substance.
