Police from Saint Clair, Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven joined in the Sunday pursuit of a man driving a red and silver full-size GMC pickup truck after an incident that occurred at Wal-Mart, Saint Clair.
Saint Clair police Officer Frank J. DiMarco arrived about 12:26 a.m. Sunday at Wal-Mart after receiving numerous calls about a reckless driver who was allegedly spinning his tires and driving in the parking lot at an unsafe speed.
Once DiMarco arrived at the location, he noticed the vehicle speeding away from the scene toward Route 61, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
He activated his lights but the driver, later identified as Vincent Michael Weiss, Auburn, kept driving at a high rate of speed, making a left turn through a steady red light at Route 61 South and Terry Rich Boulevard. Weiss was driving recklessly, DiMarco said, at times going through several intersections and red lights and doing other unsafe driving actions. DiMarco alerted county control to the circumstances.
Police from Schuylkill Haven and Pottsville then joined in the pursuit while on the way to Pottsville, according to police. Weiss continued driving into Cressona, where he lost control of the truck and hit a utility pole at Pottsville and River streets, police said. He then fled on foot and was later captured in a yard near the accident scene. However, he refused to obey commands to get on the ground, ran and later struggled with officers before being arrested, police said.
Schuylkill Haven police officers Greg Meisner and Joseph Krammes took the suspect into custody. Weiss has a medical condition and was in possession of a hypodermic needle at the time of his arrest. Meisner was taken to the hospital for medical testing after coming in contact with Weiss who was bleeding, police said.
Police said Weiss had alcohol on his breath and admitted to being a methamphetamine user. Weiss allegedly admitted to doing the drug recently and was in possession of unmarked capsules with white powder.
Weiss submitted to a blood test for alcohol use and the controlled substance. Results are pending.
Police charged Weiss with numerous offenses, including felony fleeing and eluding, reckless endangering, various traffic offenses, possession of a controlled substance, DUI-alcohol and combined controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, Shenandoah, on $25,000 bail and sent to Schuylkill County Prison, DiMarco said.