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| Photo Courtesy of Fire & Film |
According to Pottsville Police, on Tuesday night, at approximately 10:15pm, Pottsville Bureau of Police officers were on special patrol in an unmarked police car when they observed a red Chrysler 300 turn from the 400 block of Coal St. onto Mauch Chunk Street almost striking their vehicle.
The vehicle continued east on Mauch Chunk and turned into the Dunkin Donuts parking lot at a high rate of speed, then crossed Route 61 eastbound onto Stein St., where the officers lost sight of the vehicle.
A short time later another Pottsville policeman operating a marked patrol car observed a vehicle matching the vehicle's description parked in the middle of the road in the 400 Block of East Market St.
As he approached the vehicle, the driver, later identified as Josh Hickey, 23, of Pottsville, drove off and turned north onto N. George Street then west onto E. Race Street and north on Route 61.
Despite being followed by a marked patrol car utilizing audible and visual emergency signals to stop, Hickey accelerated in an attempt to elude police. After obtaining positive identification of the suspect vehicle registration, Pottsville police disengaged from the pursuit due to safety concerns for other motorists being caused by Hickey’s reckless driving during the pursuit.
Pottsville Police alerted departments north of the city to advise them of the situation and the description of the suspect's vehicle.
Not long after, around 10:30pm, Frackville and Mahanoy City Police located the vehicle. Hickey attempted to elude police again in Frackville where he then failed to make a turn near the intersection of Pine and Balliet Streets.
Not long after, around 10:30pm, Frackville and Mahanoy City Police located the vehicle. Hickey attempted to elude police again in Frackville where he then failed to make a turn near the intersection of Pine and Balliet Streets.
Hickey reportedly attempted to flee on foot but police were right behind and took him into custody.
The subsequent investigation led to Pottsville Police being given permission to search the vehicle by the registered owner, a 38 year old Pottsville man not present at the time of the incident, and seized synthetic marijuana packaged for sale, US currency, a digital scale and several items of drug paraphernalia.
A criminal complaint was prepared by Pottsville Police charging Hickey with Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police, Possession with Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance, Possession of a Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Driving Vehicle at Safe Speed, Stop Signs, Careless Driving, Reckless Driving and Drivers required to be licensed. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James Ferrier, Orwigsburg, who set bail at $15,000 and Hickey was remanded to the Schuylkill County Prison pending posting of bail or his preliminary hearing.
Frackville, West Mahanoy Township, Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, and Pottsville Departments were all involved in the incident along with Frackville Ambulance.
Photos from the Scene from Fire & Film