Thursday, September 17, 2020

Charges Filed Against Two Involved in Robbery and Pursuit Late Wednesday in Schuylkill County

Police LightsThe two arrestees involved in an armed robbery and pursuit in Schuylkill County late Wednesday were charged Thursday afternoon.

According to court papers, on September 16th, 2020, local, state and federal law enforcement officers conducted a controlled purchase of methamphetamine from a man they knew as "Young" the parking lot of the Unity Food Mart on Lehigh Street in Frackville.

During the controlled buy, the undercover officer entered the dealers vehicle, then exited and returned to his vehicle and reported that he was just robbed.  The officer said that Young and a passenger held him at gunpoint as he entered the vehicle and demanded money.

The suspects fled in their vehicle on Route 61 south.

At the intersection of Route 61 and Jackson Street in Pottsville, Pottsville and Port Carbon Police were waiting and attempted to make a vehicle stop.

The suspects accelerated and continued to flee south on Route 61.

A pursuit ensued until the chase reach the intersection of Route 61 and Route 895 when police attempted to use "stop sticks".

The driver lost control and crashed into a wooded area, and at that point the suspects fled on foot.

Law enforcement remained at the scene until the early morning hours of Thursday searching for the suspects.

Around 7:45am, both suspects, identified as Damar Jordan Coad, 19, of Reading, and John Luis-Fidanqui-Martin, 18, of New York, New York were both taken into custody.

An investigation led to the determination that Fidanqui-Martin was the driver of the vehicle and Coad was the passenger.

Fidanqui-Martin was charged with robbery, aggravated assault, theft by unlawful taking, and fleeing or attempting to elude police.

Coad was charged with the same minus the fleeing and eluding police charge.

Both were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale on Thursday afternoon and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $250,000 straight cash bail.