Monday, May 22, 2023

UPDATE: Two Locked Up in Schuylkill County Prison for Friday's Incident in Ashland

Two people are locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after Friday's incident in the Ashland area.

On Friday, Sade Hill, 26, and Torre Ervin, 33, both of 203 Walnut Street, of Ashland, were taken into custody after a pursuit that began in Ashland just after 11:00am.

According to court documents filed by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, the focus of Friday's investigation was on Ervin.

The investigation began earlier this year when Ervin had allegedly sold guns through 7 straw purchases between November 2022 and March 2023.

It was learned that Ervin had purchased these firearms through a gun shop in the Ashland area and in turn, he would sell the guns for drugs.

On Friday, around 11:00am, investigators from the Allentown Office of the ATF, Pennsylvania Attorney General's office, and the Ashland Police descended on the 600 Block of Centre Street of Ashland.

After another sale was made, law enforcement attempted to stop the minivan Ervin was a passenger in.

The driver of the vehicle, Hill, turned the van into a patrol vehicle, driven by Chief Ger Daley, causing heavy front-end damage.

Hill continued and fled down Centre Street at a high rate of speed.  A pursuit ensued down Hoffman Boulevard and south on Route 61 into Fountain Springs.

Hill continued onto Beaver Dam Road at a high rate of speed almost losing control several times until coming to a stop and surrendering.

Hill and Ervin were taken into custody on Beaver Dam Road.

A search was conducted on Hoffman Boulevard in the area of the Mahanoy Creek between Red White and Blue Auto and Danny's Drive In, for firearms that were thrown from the vehicle during the pursuit.  The West End Fire Dive Team from Mahanoy City and the Washington Fire Company from Ashland wwere called in to assist where two firearms were recovered on Friday afternoon.

Hill charged by Ashland Police Chief Daley with fleeing or attempting to elude police, aggravated assault, and recklessly endangering another person for the pursuit.  She was arraigned later in the day on Friday by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail.

Ervin was charged by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office with 7 felony counts of sale or transfer of firearms, one count of felony criminal use of a communications facility, 2 counts of felony persons not to possess firearms, 7 counts of misdemeanor unsworn falsification to authorities, 7 counts of tampering with records, and 7 counts of false swearing in official matters.

Ervin was also arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $500,000 straight cash bail.