A Schuylkill County man was sent to jail early Monday morning after police say he led them on a motorcycle pursuit and was found in possession of suspected drugs.
Francis Golab III, 44, of Auburn, was arrested Sunday night after fleeing a traffic stop in Schuylkill Haven, according to police.
Police say they were traveling north on Route 61 in an unmarked vehicle shortly before 10 p.m. when they saw a gray Honda Shadow with a registration that belonged to a Yamaha. When police activated their emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop as the motorcycle turned onto N. Garfield Ave., Golab pointed left and failed to pull over at multiple safe locations.
Golab then abruptly accelerated to speeds exceeding the posted limit, police say. With lights and sirens activated, police gave pursuit, traveling through Schuylkill Haven and North Manheim Township.
During the pursuit, police allege the motorcycle failed to maintain a single lane, entered the oncoming lane multiple times, failed to stop at multiple stop signs, did not utilize turn signals, and was speeding.
Golab eventually did stop at about 10 p.m. at the intersection of Second Mountain and Seven Stars roads in North Manheim Township, where he was taken into custody.
During a search of Golab and his backpack, police say they found three capped syringes, including one containing apparent blood. Police also located a clear plastic baggie containing suspected meth, a clear plastic baggie containing suspected weed, and a crumpled dollar bill containing a white powdery substance.
While in custudy in the back of a patrol vehicle, police say Golab said he last used “yesterday,” clarifying that he had used methamphetamine and marijuana. Police say Golab was also displaying signs of impairment at the time of his arrest.
After a blood test at Lehigh Valley Hospital-East, to which he consented, Golab was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker shortly before 1 a.m. Monday and charged with a felony count of fleeing police, misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, DUI, and numerous summary traffic offenses.
Kilker set bail at $10,000 and Golab was remanded to Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 14 before Senior Magisterial District Judge Casimir Kosciolek.
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