Two people have been charged following a police pursuit through Pottsville’s East Side on Monday night.
According to court documents filed by State Police-Schuylkill Haven, a Trooper was on patrol near E. Market and N. Wolfe streets in Pottsville on Monday at about 8 p.m. because he’d received a report of a stolen vehicle operating in the city. Police have been investigating a string of vehicle thefts in the area recently.
A black Acura Integra, that had been reported stolen from a business in West Brunswick Township, was seen traveling past Lehigh Valley Hospital before making a right turn onto N. Wolfe St. It then turned left onto E. Arch St. and then made another left onto Charles St., police say.
Police then activated their emergency lights and siren as the vehicle turned on to E. Market St., continuing through the intersection of E. Market and N. Jackson streets without stopping at the Stop sign.
The vehicle then turned right onto N. George St. without stopping at another Stop sign. It then went left on to E. Arch St. and went straight toward Route 61. Police say the vehicle then went north on Route 61 for a short distance, blowing through a red light before turning right into the Pizza Hut parking lot.
After going through the parking lot, it turned right onto E. Race St. and then straight to the intersection of Line St. It turned right onto Line St. and continued straight through another Stop sign, police say. The vehicle continued straight on Line St., going through yet another Stop sign at its intersection with E. Norwegian St., eventually going behind the 7-Eleven, where it came to a stop.
Two men were sitting in the front seats, police say, and both exited the vehicle, which had become disabled. The driver – identified as 38-year-old Christopher Schoffstall, of Pottsville – began to flee the scene on foot, police say, turning right toward Route 61.
As Schoffstall ran away from police, he allegedly stumbled and then ran in the opposite direction.
Police say they got out of their vehicle, giving Schoffstall several commands to stop running. Schoffstall allegedly ignored those commands and kept running through the parking lot as police continually ordered him to stop. Police say they threatened to use a Taser on Schoffstall if he didn’t stop running but he continued to run, this time between a fence toward a wooded area.
Schoffstall then stumbled again and fell to the ground. Police say they caught up with Schoffstall after that tumble but he allegedly ignored commands to show his hands so the Taser was used to gain compliance.
Pottsville Police arrived on scene and helped bring Schoffstall into custody.
A search of Schoffstall’s person resulted in the discovery of a small, clear container that police say contained what they believe is methamphetamine. Schoffstall was transported from the scene behind 7-Eleven to Lehigh Valley Hospital-East for a blood draw, police say, but he refused.
Police have charged Schoffstall with third-degree felony counts of receiving stolen property and fleeing police. He’s also been charged with misdemeanors for evading arrest on foot, DUI, drug possession and drug paraphernalia possession as well as summary offenses of driving on a suspended license, careless driving, reckless driving, failing to use a turn signal, speeding, and 5 counts of failing to stop at Stop signs.
Drug Charges Filed Against Passenger
As Schoffstall was being taken into custody, another State Trooper arrived on the scene and questioned the three others – the one male in the front seat and two other females – who were allegedly in the reported stolen vehicle during the pursuit.
A black bookbag was spotted. As a Trooper was going to put the bag in his patrol vehicle, one of the passengers – identified as 28-year-old Courtney Schweikert, of Pottsville – reportedly said the bag was hers.
After getting permission to search the bag, police say they found a plastic bag that contained a “crystal rock substance” that was a little more than 5 inches in length and an inch tall. It weighed 59 grams, police say, and was suspected to be methamphetamine.
A digital scale and another plastic container with a green lid was also found. Inside the plastic container were two plastic bags that also contained “crystal rock substances” that police also believe to be methamphetamine. A dab pen was also found in the bookbag, police say.
Schweikert has been charged by police with a felony count of possession with intent to deliver and misdemeanor counts of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Arraignments
**UPDATE (4/30)** Schoffstall was arraigned Tuesday night before District Magistrate Edward Tarantelli. Bail was set at $100,000 cash, which wasn’t been posted, and he was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is currently scheduled before District Magistrate Judge James Reiley on May 12.
Schweikert was arraigned before Tarantelli on Monday night. Tarantelli set bail at $50,000 cash, which hasn’t been posted, and Schweikert remains housed at Schuylkill County Prison awaiting a preliminary hearing currently scheduled for May 5 before Reiley.
**UPDATE (4/30)** Police say two other passengers in the vehicle had active warrants for their arrest. One person named is Kevin Carrington, of Pottsville. The other passenger was not named in new information from State Police.
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