Two men are facing charges by Pottsville police after officers were called to the area of South 26th Street about 3:30 a.m. Sunday for a report of shots fired in a wooded area near the Gables.
Police said when officers arrived they could hear shots still being fired and determined they were coming from the vicinity of mine reclamation roads on Sharp Mountain.
Officers from Schuylkill Haven, Saint Clair and Minersville, along with state police troopers, arrived to assist in the situation and a Dodge truck was seen leaving the area.
Officers tried to stop the truck using their lights and siren but the driver fled. Police said officers briefly tried to follow the truck but the pursuit was called off due to safety reasons.
A perimeter patrol of the area was established, and police said they located the truck behind the 600 block of Boone Street, just west of Bannan Street, in Pottsville.
At that time, the driver, later identified as Alex Hufnagle, 24, of Schuylkill Haven, fled east on Bannan Street and then north onto Fourth Street, where he put the truck into reverse and backed into a tree before heading west on Bannan Street.
Police said Hufnagle then traveled back into a wooded area behind the 600 block of Boone Street, where he lost control of the vehicle.
After the vehicle came to a stop, police said five people inside, including Hufnagle, fled the area on foot.
After a short pursuit, police said officers took Hufnagle, Amanda Borowski, 22, of New Philadelphia, Tiffany Woodward, 23, of Pottsville, and Jayson Thompson, 23, of Pottsville, into custody.
At that time, police said officers found Thompson and Hufnagle in possession of a 9mm Glock handgun and heavily under the influence of alcohol.
Police said Hufnagle will be charged with DUI, fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, persistent disorderly conduct, criminal trespass and violating a city ordinance for discharging a firearm within city limits.
Thompson, police said, will be charged with recklessly endangering another person, persistent disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and violating a city ordinance for discharging a firearm within city limits.
Police said their investigation is continuing and that they did not release the identity of the fifth person who was inside the truck pending further information.
Thompson and Hufnagle will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.