According to court papers filed the Saint Clair Borough Police Department, the incident happened around 10:12 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, 2026, while the officer was on patrol in the area of South Front Street.
Police say the officer got behind a red Honda motorcycle. When the motorcycle reached the intersection of South Front Street and East Lawton Street, the operator allegedly failed to use a right turn signal and proceeded through a posted stop sign.
Police activated their emergency lights and siren in an attempt to initiate a traffic stop on East Lawton Street. Instead of stopping, police allege the motorcycle turned onto South Second Street, went through another stop sign at East Lawton and South Second streets, and continued southbound at a high rate of speed.
According to the affidavit, the officer continued following the motorcycle onto West Russell Street and then onto Route 61 North. While traveling north on Route 61, police say the motorcycle approached the intersection with Wade Road and entered the left-turn lane, where the traffic signal displayed a red arrow. The motorcycle allegedly continued through the red arrow and turned left onto Wade Road.
Police said the motorcycle then appeared to malfunction and began shutting off intermittently while traveling westbound on Wade Road, at one point moving along the shoulder. When the bike reached the area of Wade Road and Apple Street, it shut off completely and the operator began coasting at a slow speed.
Once the motorcycle slowed enough, police said he exited his patrol vehicle and tackled the operator off the bike. The rider was taken into custody and identified as Joseph Stanley Sears, 33, of Pottsville.
After Sears was placed in the patrol vehicle, Schuylkill County Communications reportedly advised police that the registration plate displayed on the motorcycle had been reported stolen by Minersville Police. Communications also advised that Sears’ driving privileges had been suspended and expired as of July 28, 2020, and that he had multiple active warrants through the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
Police said a check of the motorcycle’s VIN showed the assigned registration was expired in August 2022. The stolen plate displayed on the motorcycle was not located during a subsequent search. Minersville Police later confirmed the plate was stolen, according to the affidavit.
The motorcycle was removed from the scene by Trail Towing LLC, and Sears was transported to the Saint Clair Police Station. After reviewing Sears’ information, police determined he did not possess a motorcycle license and had one prior conviction for driving while his operating privileges were suspended or revoked.
Sears has been charged with felony fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, receiving stolen property, and numerous summary traffic violations, including careless driving, driving while suspended, driving without a license, operating an unregistered vehicle, lack of financial responsibility, operating without a valid inspection, failing to stop at stop signs, disregarding traffic-control devices, driving at an unsafe speed, fraudulent use or removal of a registration plate, and investigation by officer/duty of operator.
He was arraigned early Monday morning before on-call Magisterial District Judge Christian Lengel, who set bail at $10,000 straight cash. Sears later posted bail through a professional bondsman and was released.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 31, 2026, before Magisterial District Judge Edward Lewis.