A Reading man is wanted after State Police say he led troopers on a chase that topped 141 mph across parts of Schuylkill and Lebanon counties early Wednesday, eluding pursuing cruisers twice before the chase was called off.
Emilio Rodriguez, 24, faces a felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer along with 10 summary traffic offenses. State Police-Schuylkill Haven filed the charges following the pursuit, which began in Pine Grove Township and crossed into Lebanon County before ending in Schuylkill County again.
A Trooper first spotted a white Kia Stinger with a black spoiler parked at the pumps of the Speedway gas station in Pine Grove Township shortly before midnight Tuesday. Surveillance video reviewed by investigators showed the driver go inside, buy a Red Bull and use the restroom before returning to the car and pulling out onto Sweet Arrow Lake Road at a high rate of speed, heading east, police said.
A Trooper patrolling nearby on Sweet Arrow Lake Road spotted the Stinger but lost sight of it because of its speed.
Minutes later, just after midnight, a State Police corporal patrolling Pleasant Valley Road near Waterfall Road in Pine Grove Township said he saw a white Kia Stinger turn onto Pleasant Valley Road and accelerate to a high rate of speed. He recognized it as the same car he had seen earlier at the Speedway pumps. The corporal turned around to try to catch up, but the Stinger passed him going the opposite direction at more than 80 mph, and he was unable to close the distance.
Police say the car then slid sideways turning from E. Pottsville St. onto S. Tulpehocken St. and accelerated to more than 90 mph in a posted 35 mph zone. Near Church St. in Pine Grove, the corporal activated his emergency lights and siren to attempt a traffic stop.
Instead of stopping, Rodriguez shut off the car’s headlights and continued west on Suedberg Road in Pine Grove Township, prompting a pursuit, according to police. The chase continued on Suedberg Road into Union Township, Lebanon County, where troopers lost sight of the car near Moonshine Road. During that stretch, the driver repeatedly turned the headlights off to avoid detection, failed to maintain a single travel lane, ran a red light and reached speeds of more than 115 mph in a 55 mph zone.
Troopers from State Police-Jonestown later spotted the Stinger on Route 72, and the pursuit resumed. The car entered Interstate 81 from Route 72 and reached speeds of more than 141 mph in a 65 mph zone before exiting back onto Suedberg Road without stopping at a posted stop sign, according to police. Troopers lost sight of the car again heading east on Suedberg Road, and the pursuit was terminated.
Investigators identified the Stinger’s registered owner as Rodriguez and found his Pennsylvania driver’s license is suspended. Police say they matched surveillance footage of the driver at the Speedway to open-source photos and videos of Rodriguez. Troopers went to Rodriguez’s residence but were unable to make contact.
State police have obtained a warrant for Rodriguez’s arrest.
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