NOTE: This article has been updated from its original form to reflect the suspect’s arrest and arraignment. The original article was published after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
A Schuylkill County man whose actions during a traffic stop, police say, caused an officer to suffer a serious ankle injury, was apprehended this week after a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Michael Siegel, 31, of Pine Grove, was arraigned on the afternoon of July 8 before District Magistrate James Reiley. He’s facing numerous charges, including aggravated assault, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension, evading arrest on foot, simple assault, providing false ID to police, and several summary offenses.
Reiley set bail at 10% of $15,000 and Siegel was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison.
According to court documents, State Police-Schuylkill Haven was asked to take over an investigation that originally started with a traffic stop on a motorcycle on Route 209 at about 11 p.m. on July 5.
Reilly Township Deputy Chief William Kattner says he was on patrol when he noticed a Suzuki motorcycle with no registration plate pass three vehicles in a no passing zone on the highway. When Kattner caught up to the motorcycle, its driver – eventually identified as Siegel – was pushing the bike on Sport Hill St.
Kattner says he told Siegel that he’d be receiving traffic citations and asked for his ID. However, Siegel allegedly gave Kattner two false identifications before eventually divulging his real name.
A search of Siegel’s real identity reportedly revealed that he was wanted on an arrest warrant. When Kattner attempted to take Siegel into custody, he ran toward Route 209 and continued to resist being arrested. Kattner says he deployed his taser, which slowed Siegel down but their legs reportedly got wrapped up together.
This caused Kattner to suffer an ankle injury. Kattner later learned when he was taken to a nearby hospital that he’d suffered a fractured ankle and and torn ligaments.
Siegel pushed away from Kattner and fled on foot.
Police say Siegel’s record showed that he had four prior convictions for driving on a DUI-suspended license.
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