An unidentified Pa., State Police officer is being sued by a Clearfield County woman, in the death of her son. Valerie Peoples has filed a civil rights lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Johnstown claiming that while the trooper was in a high speed chase with her son, 38 year old Matthew Chelgren of Grampian, Chelgren struck a tree and later died. According to the lawsuit, the officer used a Precision Immobilization Technique to turn Chelgren’s vehicle to the side. According to an earlier state police news release, officers were trying to stop Chelgren, because his vehicle did not have a registration plate. Instead of stopping, Chelgren allegedly drove away at a high rate of speed. The chase ended in the fatal crash this past April in Curwensville. Reportedly, the suit has been filed on behalf of Chelgren’s child, and other surviving members of his family.
