According to court documents filed by Mahanoy City Police Patrolman Derek Weicikosky, the incident occurred on Thursday, December 7th, 2023, around 10:40 pm.
The affidavit details that Patrolmen Weicikosky and Patrolman Smith were on patrol when they attempted to pull over 61-year-old Dennis Brennan of Mahanoy City for a traffic violation on Centre Street. Brennan was already known to the police for having a suspended license due to DUI.
Brennan pulled over onto Catawissa Street and parked next to Truskowsky Funeral Home. Before the vehicle came to a stop, the front passenger-side door opened, and 32-year-old Shawna Zandarski, also of Mahanoy City, exited the vehicle, attempting to flee. The officers were familiar with Zandarski and knew she had an active warrant from Schuylkill County Detectives and Schuylkill County Probation.
Police pursued on foot and eventually apprehended her in a parking lot in the 400 Block of West Pine Street.
Assisting Mahanoy Township Police had arrived by this point. When they returned to the scene of the traffic stop, they found the vehicle locked, but Brennan had fled.
Patrolman Smith would be transported to the hospital for injuries he sustained during the pursuit.
Zandarski was taken into custody on the warrant, with charges filed the following day. She faces charges of aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, and evading arrest, with an arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker on December 11th, 2023. She remains incarcerated in Schuylkill County Prison on 10% of $10,000 bail.
Brennan has been charged with harboring a wanted individual, obstruction of the law, evading arrest, driving with a suspended license, and multiple traffic violations.
Both Brennan and Zandarski are scheduled to appear before Judge Kilker on December 28th, 2023, for their preliminary hearings.
Zandarski was taken into custody on the warrant, with charges filed the following day. She faces charges of aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, and evading arrest, with an arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker on December 11th, 2023. She remains incarcerated in Schuylkill County Prison on 10% of $10,000 bail.
Brennan has been charged with harboring a wanted individual, obstruction of the law, evading arrest, driving with a suspended license, and multiple traffic violations.
Both Brennan and Zandarski are scheduled to appear before Judge Kilker on December 28th, 2023, for their preliminary hearings.
Incarceration Photo Above: Shawna Zandarski