Pennsylvania State Police have provided an update on an investigation into a man that fled Troopers in Schuylkill County on Labor Day.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Schuylkill haven, on Monday, September 5th, 2022, around 7:00pm, a "Be On the Lookout" was put out for a Silver Dodge Durango that was involved in a retail theft at Kohl's Department Store at the Fairlane Village Mall near Pottsville.
State Police observed a vehicle matching the description traveling at a high rate of speed on Route 61 southbound in West Brunswick Township. A check of the license plate on the truck returned it to a Honda Sedan.
Troopers activated their emergency lights and siren in attempt to stop the vehicle but it continued to flee south on Route 61 at a high rate of speed.
A pursuit ensued south on Route 61 to Berks County when the driver turned onto Interstate 78 eastbound, and continued to flee on the highway through Lehigh and into Northampton County.
State Police from Hamburg, Folgelsville, and Belfast joined in the pursuit and were able to successfully slow the vehicle with spike strips and a PIT maneuver.
The driver, Clifford Gavin, 51, of Vance, South Carolina was taken into custody without further incident.
He was brought back to Schuylkill County where he was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi on fleeing and eluding police, over a dozen charges of recklessly endangering another person, and numerous traffic infractions.
Rossi locked up Gavin up in Schuylkill County Prison on $200,000 straight cash bail.
On Monday, September 12th, 2022 police say they served a search warrant on the vehicle Gavin was driving.
The search led to the finding of controlled substances, paraphernalia, and $5,189.90 of suspected stolen merchandise from multiple retail/home improvement stores.
No additional charges have been filed against Gavin as of Monday, but Troopers say the investigation is still ongoing.
He remains locked up in Schuylkill County Prison with a Preliminary Hearing scheduled for Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge Andrew J. Serina.