A man and woman from New York are locked up in Schuylkill County Prison following a pursuit on Interstate 81.
According to court documents filed by Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Joseph Yates through Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker's Office, Jennifer Schellerer, 37, of Holland Patent, NY, and Dennis Williamson, 41, of Rome, NY are facing charges following the pursuit that began in Mahanoy Township on Saturday, March 30th, 2024.
Trooper Yates wrote that around 8:15pm on Saturday, while on patrol, he observed a red pickup truck with its hazard lights on parked on the right shoulder of the Interstate 81 south entrance ramp from Route 54 (Mahanoy City exit).
Trooper Yates stopped to check on the vehicle and as he approached the vehicle, Williamson was in the driver's seat with Schellerer as the passenger, and a strong odor of marijuana and alcohol could be smelled coming from the vehicle.
Upon speaking with the Williamson, Trooper Yates took his driver's license and registration. While checking the information in his patrol vehicle, Williamson drove off and fled onto Interstate 81 south.
Trooper Yates pursued while Williamson drove at speeds in excess of 100mph, weaving through traffic, until he exited the Interstate at Frackville.
Williamson continued to weave through traffic in Frackville and ignored red lights until traveling through the Turkey Hill lot and onto Oak Street where he would be boxed in by police.
Both were taken into custody without further incident with Williamson being transported to the hospital for a blood draw.
While Schellerer was retrieving her license, a glass smoking device fell from her purse along with a baggie that field tested as marijuana.
It would also be learned that Williamson's license was revoked and the registration on the truck did not match the vehicle.
State Police charged Williamson with fleeing or eluding police, unsafe driving with DUI, Driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license, operating a vehicle while disregarding the safety of others, and displaying the wrong registration on a vehicle.
Schellerer was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Both were arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Andrew Serina with Williamson's bail being set at $100,000 straight cash and Schellerer's being set at $2,500 straight cash.
Both remained locked up in Schuylkill County Prison with both scheduled to appear being Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in Shenandoah on April 11th, 2024 for a preliminary hearing.