A New Jersey man is free on bail after a pursuit in Shenandoah Heights on Tuesday.
According to court papers filed by West Mahanoy Township Police, on Tuesday, April 9th, 2024, around 5:50pm, Ptlm. Mark Hysock was on patrol in Shenandoah Heights when he saw a white motorcycle driving recklessly on Schuylkill Avenue heading towards Cemetery Road.
Ptlm. Hysock activated his emergency lights to pull over the motorcycle, but the rider looked back and began to flee at a high rate of speed.
A short pursuit took place to Raven Run Road where the rider came to a skidding stop then turned into a cemetery.
The pursuit continued through the cemetery until Ptlm. Hysock lost sight of the motorcycle when it entered a wooded area.
Ptlm. Hysock stayed close by and continued to patrol the area until he received information that the motorcycle involved was parked behind a house on Schuylkill Avenue. It was there he found the motorcycle up against a tree and Joherlin Bonifacio, of East Orange, New Jersey hiding behind a woodpile nearby.
Bonifacio was taken into custody without incident. He was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, alteration of a vehicle identification number, altered, forged, or counterfeit documents and plates, reckless driving, and careless driving.
Judge Tarantelli set bail at $25,000 straight cash. Bonifacio spent the night in Schuylkill County Prison and posted bail on Wednesday morning through a bondsman.
Bonifacio is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker for a preliminary hearing on April 18th, 2024.