Milton, Pennsylvania – After a vehicle was pulled over for erratic movements and driving under the speed limit, the driver fled the scene and led police on a car and foot chase in Milton.
The driver, Hector Manuel Rodriguez Vazquez, 27, of Northumberland, was charged with multiple crimes following the chase.
On April 2, Trooper Dustin Spangler and Trooper Levi Eck were working the night shift conducting a routine roving patrol on State Route 642. “traffic lane,” and traveling 60 mph in a 65 mph zone on PA Route 147 , according to Trooper Spangler.
When the vehicle, identified as a red Mercedes-Benz CLA 250, pulled out of the industrial park, Spangler activated his hazard lights and the vehicle came to a stop. The driver failed to park the car, according to Private Spangler, who described the driver as making “frantic movements”.
Spangler approached the driver’s side of the vehicle and saw the driver “trying to hide Mike’s hard lemonade in the rear passenger area of the vehicle,” according to the affidavit. Rodriguez Vazquez ignored Spangler’s requests to exit the vehicle, then fled.
Spangler returned to his patrol car and began pursuing the fleeing vehicle. The vehicle drove down a dirt road and then turned the wrong way on Highway 147, heading north into the southbound lane, according to Spangler.
Rodriguez Vazquez continued at high speed and eventually lost control at the intersection of Industrial Park and Sodom roads.
The fleeing vehicle evaded the patrol car, headed east on Industrial Park Road and nearly hit another vehicle. Private Spangler attempted a precision immobilization technique, or PIT maneuver, to smash the rear of the vehicle and force the car onto its side. After making contact with the vehicle, Spangler noticed that it had two flat front tires, according to arrest documents.
The vehicle was eventually located on Shakespeare Road on the left shoulder. Rodriguez Vazquez had fled into the woods, according to Spangler. Officers pursued Rodriguez Vazquez on foot and caught him after deploying a stun gun, according to the affidavit.
Police identified Rodriguez Vazquez by locating his driver’s license in his wallet, where they also allegedly found a large sum of cash and a “small plastic bag of marijuana,” according to the affidavit.
Rodriguez Vasquez was taken to the Evangelical Community Hospital for a medical evaluation. He received treatment, was released and taken to the station for charges.
Rodriguez Vasquez has been charged with felony flight from or attempt to evade an officer, theft to avoid arrest/trial/punishment, one misdemeanor count DUI/dangerous driving, two misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, an offense of recklessly endangering another person, an offense of safe driving speed and an offense of possession of marijuana.
Comments are closed.