According to court documents by Officer Mindy Petrus, charges were filed against Roque Antonio Perez, 40, of Shenandoah, on September 3, 2025, in connection with an incident that occurred on August 1.
Perez has been charged with resisting arrest, evading arrest on foot, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police say they were dispatched just after 11:00 p.m. to La Casita De Familia Bar on East Centre Street for reports of a fight. A security guard at the bar reported that Perez had been involved in a physical altercation with a woman and then fled the scene.
Officers pursued a white van matching the description provided by security and stopped the vehicle on West Centre Street. Police say Perez jumped out of the van and attempted to flee on foot.
An officer caught up with Perez behind homes on West Centre Street and attempted to take him into custody. According to the affidavit, Perez resisted, refused commands, and continued pulling away. The officer reported detecting an odor of alcohol coming from Perez.
Police allege that once at the Shenandoah Police Station, Perez again resisted attempts to remove him from the patrol car, pulling away and chest-bumping the officer before falling face-first to the ground while still handcuffed.
After falling, Perez became unresponsive. Officers believed he was overdosing and administered Narcan. Perez regained consciousness inside an ambulance and was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pottsville.
During a search, police say they recovered a baggie containing a white powder from Perez’s pocket. Field tests indicated the substance was fentanyl.
Perez’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for October 2, 2025, before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli.