A wanted Mahanoy City man is in custody and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after leading police in a pursuit on Monday.
According to court documents filed by Mahanoy City Police Chief Thomas Rentschler, on Monday, March 11th, 2024, he was conducting surveillance at a home on South Catawissa Street for 31-year-old Travis John, who had an active bench warrant for failing to appear at the Schuylkill County Courthouse to begin serving a prison sentence on February 15th, 2024, for a drug conviction.
While watching the home, John was seen getting into a black Ford Focus and headed south on Catawissa Street.
Mahanoy City Police followed the vehicle to the intersection of East End Road and Vulcan Hill Road, when they could identify that John was the driver. Once confirming his identity, they activated their emergency lights in attempt to conduct a traffic stop.
John then accelerated away, even passing a waiting Pennsylvania State Police patrol vehicle at the top of the Vulcan Hill before turning onto Interstate 81 northbound.
Mahanoy City Police, Mahanoy Township Police, and State Police followed while John travelled at speeds estimated at over 100mph on Interstate 81.
The pursuit extended into Luzerne County where State Troopers from Hazleton attempted to deploy spike strips on Interstate 81. The attempt failed and once the pursuit reached mile marker 150, the pursuit was terminated for safety concerns.
Chief Rentschler filed charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, flight to avoid apprehension, reckless driving, careless driving, and various traffic violations against John and a warrant for his arrest was issued.
John was later taken into custody Monday afternoon and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on the active warrant and to begin serving his prison sentence.
On Tuesday morning, John was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, Shenandoah, with bail for the pursuit charges set at $25,000 straight cash.
A preliminary hearing for the pursuit is scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Kilker for March 21st, 2024.