Sunday, June 20, 2021

Man on Side-by-Side Attempts to Flee Mahanoy City Police

A man was taken into custody late Saturday after he attempted to flee from Mahanoy City Police on a side-by-side.

According to police, on Saturday evening, around 9:30pm, Mahanoy City Patrolman Thomas Rentschler observed a black Kawasaki side by side traveling west on Centre Street at a high rate of speed near the intersection with Main Street.

Once Rentschler activated his lights and siren, the driver attempted to flee on West Centre Street.

Near the intersection with D Street, Rentschler was able to stop in front of the fleeing vehicle, where he ordered the driver to shut off and get out of the vehicle.

The driver, later identified as Rodney Knittle, 32, of Gilberton, refused to comply, and attempted to flee by putting the vehicle in reverse.

Rentschler was able to pull the key from the ignition before he could flee, but Knittle continued to refuse to get out of the vehicle.

Knittle became combative, to which Rentschler deployed his taser twice which had no affect.

By this time, Mahanoy Township Police arrived on scene and helped taken Knittle into custody.

Knittle was charged by Mahanoy City Police with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, recklessly endangering another person, driving under the influence of alcohol, reckless driving, careless driving, and other traffic offenses.

He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Kilker and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $15,000 straight cash bai.