A Schuylkill County man was jailed earlier this week after police say he struck his ex-girlfriend and then repeatedly tried to force her vehicle off the interstate.
Luis Velazquez Camacho, 28, of McAdoo, was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison on Thursday afternoon after police in Saint Clair intercepted his and the woman’s vehicles in the borough. Camacho was arraigned on charges of stalking, reckless endangerment, and harassment.
Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker set bail at $50,000. Camacho posted bond the following day and was released from prison. He’s due back before Kilker on March 5 for a preliminary hearing on these charges.
The alleged incident that landed him in jail began shortly before 7 a.m. Thursday outside the woman’s residence in McAdoo. Police say Velazquez Camacho approached the woman as she was placing their children into car seats and began arguing with her. The woman told State Police the altercation turned physical when Velazquez Camacho punched her twice in the left shoulder.
The woman told police she subsequently dropped her children off at daycare and drove onto Interstate 81-South, at which point Velazquez Camacho began following her in his vehicle.
As they approached Mile Marker 131.1 in Mahanoy Township, the woman reported that Velazquez Camacho attempted to strike her vehicle several times from the driver’s side. She reportedly told police he used his vehicle to force her off the roadway four or five times.
Trying to get away, the woman told police she took the Route 61-South off-ramp toward Saint Clair and drove through the borough until a local police officer assisted her near E. Hancock and N. 3rd streets. Police say the woman showed no visible signs of injury and neither vehicle sustained any visible damage.
Speaking to police through a translator, Velazquez Camacho admitted to confronting the woman at her home over ongoing relationship and financial issues, but told police the argument was purely verbal.
Velazquez Camacho told police he followed the woman onto the interstate and drove in the left lane to get her attention. He told investigators he crossed in front of the woman’s vehicle twice after approaching another car from the rear, saying he tried to change lanes quickly and believed he did not give her vehicle enough room.
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