A former Schuylkill County man with active warrants fled a local gas station in a vehicle after fighting with police, breaking free from a stun gun, and being pepper-sprayed earlier this week, police say.
State Police say they noticed Dakota Kocher, 29, of Lebanon and formerly of Donaldson, inside the Onvo Gas Station on Molleystown Rd. shortly after 4:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police say they knew Kocher had two active warrants, one from Berks County and another from the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole.
When police called out, “Austin”, he responded but then claimed his name was “Lane Leitzel,” police say. After police informed him of the warrants and ordered him to place his hands behind his back, Kocher refused commands and attempted to walk away.
Police blocked the store exit, where Kocher attempted to flee past them, leading to a physical altercation. Police say Kocher actively resisted, grabbing at a Trooper’s abdomen and upper body. The struggle continued through the doorway, which both struck multiple times, before moving outside, police say.
Kocher broke free and continued to flee despite warnings that a stun gun would be used, police say. Police then Tased Kocher, causing him to fall, but he got back up. A second Tasing had no effect on him. As Kocher stood by a silver Hyundai and continued to ignore commands, police say they got him in both eyes with pepper spray.
Despite being sprayed, Kocher got in the Hyundai through the passenger side, started the vehicle, and fled the parking lot at a high rate of speed, police allege. A witness inside the store, who told police she had been dating Kocher for about a month, owned the vehicle and confirmed his identity to police.
During the encounter, police say Kocher exhibited dilated pupils, rapid speech, white foam at the corners of his lips, and erratic behavior. Police add that Kocher has a suspended driver’s license related to three prior DUI convictions.
Related to the incident at Onvo, police have charged Kocher with felony counts of aggravated assault against a designated individual, fleeing police, and DUI. He’s also been charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, evading arrest on foot, and providing false identification to law enforcement. Kocher’s also looking at numerous summary offenses.
He was arraigned later Wednesday morning before Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel in Tremont and is currently being held at Schuylkill County Prison on $75,000 bail.
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