A Schuylkill County man faces criminal charges after State Police say they positioned a patrol cruiser in front of his fleeing motorcycle to get him to stop, resulting in a rear-end collision.
Police say 60-year-old William V. Goralewski, of New Philadelphia, led officers on a 2.5-mile chase that lasted about five and a half minutes before ending in the collision.
The incident began just before 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 7 when Saint Clair police officers spotted a black motorcycle traveling west on Route 209 in East Norwegian Township. After running the license plate and finding no record of it with PennDOT, officers tried to pull Goralewski over at Wood St. in Port Carbon. Instead of stopping, police say Goralewski took off, prompting officers to pursue him and call for back-up from State Police-Schuylkill Haven.
A Trooper joined the chase near Mill Creek Ave. as Goralewski headed north on the Port Carbon-Saint Clair Highway. According to officers, Goralewski turned around in a parking lot along Port Carbon-Saint Clair Highway and started heading south. That’s when the Trooper pulled in front of the motorcycle to execute an “induced stop”. Goralewski’s motorcycle struck the rear bumper and tailgate of the cruiser, throwing him from the bike.
When officers tried to arrest Goralewski, police say he forcefully refused to put his hands behind his back, forcing them to use physical force to handcuff him. A search following his arrest turned up a folded paper containing methamphetamine, which was sent to a lab for testing.
Police say Goralewski was driving with a DUI-related suspended license, lacked a motorcycle permit or endorsement, and was riding an unregistered motorcycle without insurance or a valid inspection. Police also noted he was wanted on three outstanding warrants in Schuylkill County.
Police charged Goralewski with misdemeanor counts of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, possession of a controlled substance, and resisting arrest. He also faces summary citations including reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, driving an unregistered vehicle, operating without required financial responsibility, failing to observe stop signs, improper signaling, and lane violations.
Goralewski was taken to Schuylkill County Prison on the outstanding warrants. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Lewis.
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