A man banging at the door of an apartment complex in Pottsville reportedly jumped off a 10-foot wall during a foot pursuit with police recently.
Police say the man, identified as Sean Dotson, 24, was high on methamphetamine and fentanyl on the night of Feb. 26. A caller at an apartment complex on the site of the former Race St. school building in Pottsville dialed 9-1-1 when Dotson was reportedly yelling, kicking, and banging on the front door there. That 9-1-1 caller reportedly told Dotson via a doorbell camera he wasn’t going to let him in the building.
When police arrived at the scene, Dotson reportedly took off on foot around the side of the building. Police say they pursued Dotson on foot through the yard area of the building complex, over a fence, and then off a 10-foot high cement wall.
Dotson then ran eastbound on Laurel Blvd. when police caught up with him at the intersection of N. 3rd St.
Police say it was clear that Dotson was under the influence of a controlled substance. They say he was speaking rapidly and at times, incoherently. He was also twitching, shaking, and smacking his lips.
EMS personnel transported Dotson to a city hospital for treatment of a suspected knee injury sustained during his jump off the wall. Police say Dotson admitted to EMS that he was under the influence of meth and fentanyl at the time.
A search of Dotson reportedly yielded a pink straw, a makeshift smoking pipe with burned residue on it, and a plastic bag containing smaller plastic glassine baggies. Police say when Dotson was released from the hospital, he was taken to City Hall and allowed to sober up and then released.
Dotson has been charged with loitering, disorderly conduct, and flight to avoid apprehension, all misdemeanors. He’s also facing a summary offense of public drunkenness. A preliminary hearing before District Magistrate Judge James Reiley is scheduled for March 31.
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