Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Man in Custody for Leading Police in Pursuit in Northern Schuylkill County

A man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison for leading police in a pursuit in Northern Schuylkill County last month.

According to court documents filed by North Union Township Officer-in-Charge Douglas Litwhiler, he was on patrol on February 2nd, 2023, around 2:15pm on Mahanoy Street when he observed a red Jeep Cherokee with an expired inspection sticker.

Litwhiler said he stopped next to the vehicle and observed a male with facial hair in his late 40's.  When they made eye contact, the driver pulled away at a high rate of speed.  Litwhiler also noticed the vehicle didn't have a license plate.

A chase ensued as the driver of the Jeep continued into Weston and went off-road up an abandoned mountain path.

Litwhiler continued to follow in his patrol vehicle until the path became undrivable for the vehicle.

An investigation found that the driver of the Jeep was a Frank Kapes, 49, of Bloomsburg.  Litwhiler went to his home and spoke with Kapes and his girlfriend Kayla Huss, who was the registered owner of the vehicle.  Litwhiler did not see the vehicle at the address at that time.

On February 12th, 2023, the Pennsylvania State Police at Hazleton reported seeing the vehicle at the home and an arrest warrant was issued for Kapes on March 14th, 2023 on charges of fleeing and eluding a police officer, recklessly endangering another person, driving an unregistered vehicle, reckless driving, and other traffic offenses.

On Monday, March 20th, 2023, Kapes was taken into custody, arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $15,000(10%) bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled before Judge Tarantelli on March 29, 2023.