A Philadelphia man faces felony charges after police say he fled a traffic stop in a stolen vehicle earlier this year and led police on a high-speed chase through Pottsville before escaping on foot.
Richard Robinson, 39, was charged this week with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, receiving stolen property, and evading arrest or detention on foot. He also faces 19 summary traffic violations, including speeding in a residential area, failing to stop at multiple stop signs, and failing to use his blinker.
Police say the incident began at shortly before 4 p.m. on March 6. Police say they saw a white Honda Accord traveling north on Route 61 with a non-functioning rear brake light. A check of the vehicle’s registration returned negative results for any registration information.
Police initiated a traffic stop, and the driver parked in the rear lot of a business in the 200 block of W. Norwegian St. in Pottsville. When asked for documentation, the driver told police he did not have his license, registration, or insurance for himself or the vehicle, claiming he left his wallet at a nearby residence.
Because the driver could not identify himself or provide documentation, police ordered him to turn off the ignition and step out of the vehicle. Police say Robinson didn’t do that and instead put the vehicle in drive and fled westbound on W. Norwegian St.
Robinson then entered the intersection of Route 209 and ignored a red light, nearly striking another moving vehicle. The pursuit continued, with Robinson allegedly reaching 60 mph in a 25 mph residential area and ignoring stop signs at the intersections of S. 2nd, N. 4th, N. 5th, N. 8th, N. 9th, and S. 10th streets. Police say Robinson turned onto several streets without signaling and nearly struck a second vehicle on S. 10th St.
The driver parked the car in a lot at the intersection of N. 9th and W. Norwegian streets. Robinson then exited the vehicle, police say, scaled a stone wall and a chain-link fence, and fled on foot eastbound on W. Norwegian St., where police lost sight of him.
Police say they checked the fleeing vehicle’s VIN and discovered it had been reported stolen out of Philadelphia on Dec. 19, 2025.
Using license plate reader technology and police resources, police identified the suspect as Robinson.
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