Man forcibly stole grandparents' car, led 130-mph pursuit through Franklin County, cops say

A man is accused of assaulting his grandparents and stealing their car, then driving more than 100 miles per hour as police pursued him through eastern Franklin County, according to local police. 

Steven Douglas Oberholzer is in Franklin County Jail, denied bail. Magisterial District Judge Duane Cunningham said because the defendant has been living in North Carolina, no amount could guarantee his appearance in court and the public's safety. 

Oberholzer, 3 faces felony charges of robbery of a vehicle, burglary, receiving stolen property and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, online court records show. 

The incident began Sunday afternoon, when a neighbor notified Oberholzer's grandparents that a man dressed in camouflage was attempting to break into their garage, according to court documents. The couple returned home. 

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When Washington Township police arrived, the grandparents said Oberholzer had succeeded in gaining access to the garage and stole their car, a 2017 Audi A4. They said they had arrived home as Oberholzer was entering the garage after getting the car keys out of the kitchen.

The grandfather told police he confronted his grandson and pulled him away from the vehicle. Oberholzer allegedly pushed his grandfather twice, causing him to fall and cut his arm, according to court documents. 

The grandmother then stepped in to stop Oberholzer from getting in the car. He pushed her to the ground, once in the garage and once in the driveway, according to court documents. She sustained a "large amount" of swelling on her left arm. 

Oberholzer's grandparents told police he then get in the car and drove off toward Mentzer Gap Road. 

Washington Township police began searching the area and, at about 6 p.m., alerted other police in the region to look out for the vehicle. 

Pennsylvania State Police encountered the vehicle as it was traveling north on Black Gap Road (Pa. 997) near Ridge Road, in Greene Township. 

The Audi traveled more than 130 mph during the pursuit, police said. It crossed the double yellow line and into oncoming traffic several times and passed multiple vehicles at "unsafe locations."

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Police lost track of the vehicle as it traveled on White Church Road. By 6:25 p.m., police received a report that the vehicle had crashed on Tanyard Hill Road in Lurgan Township and that the driver ran off. 

Less than 15 minutes later, police captured the driver and positively identified him as Oberholzer based on his Pennsylvania driver's license. Court records show his primary residence is in Orrstown. 

Oberholzer smelled of alcohol and showed other signs of alcohol intoxication, court records state. 

Back at Oberholzer's grandparents home, police talked to the neighbor who first noticed the alleged break-in. She said she was standing in her kitchen when she heard a loud thumping sound, and looked out and noticed a man throwing his body against the side door of her neighbors' garage, according to court documents. He then retrieved a compound bow and arrows, and with the second shot he broke the door's glass window. She said he then reached through the broken glass and appeared to unlock the door. 

Police said they found a broadhead attached to a broken arrow surrounded by glass in the garage.

The neighbor also told police that she saw Oberholzer's grandmother getting up off the ground, but she did not know what had happened. 

In addition to the felony charges, Oberholzer also faces misdemeanor counts of DUI, simple assault and criminal mischief, two ungraded counts of harassment, as well as a list of traffic violations. The charges are split across two cases, one tied to the alleged break-in and the other to the pursuit. 

A preliminary hearing for each case is scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Tuesday in Franklin County Central Court. 

The county's court facilities remain open during the coronavirus pandemic, although there are requested limits on visitors. 

Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com.