A New York man is facing multiple felony charges after allegedly fleeing from police, crossing the Schuylkill River, and resisting arrest following a traffic stop in Schuylkill Haven on Wednesday night.
According to court documents, Yensy Rafael Santana Alvarez, 34, of New York City, was charged with aggravated assault, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, and four counts of reckless endangerment following the incident on May 20, 2026.
Police say the incident began around 9:29 p.m. when an officer with the Schuylkill Haven Police Department was on patrol in the borough. The officer observed a blue Toyota Prius pass by and noted that the vehicle’s dark tinted windows prevented him from seeing the occupants clearly.
A traffic stop was conducted near the Sands Ford dealership on Route 61 entrance on Route 61 North. During the stop, the officer identified the driver as Alvarez through a New York driver’s license.
According to the affidavit, ICE agents accompanying the officer conducted a records check and discovered Alvarez allegedly had a final order of removal issued by an immigration judge. Additional ICE agents and Schuylkill Haven Police officers responded to assist at the scene.
While officers continued their investigation, police said Alvarez appeared extremely nervous. Officers requested the keys to the vehicle, which Alvarez allegedly handed over before being instructed to step out of the car.
As officers attempted to take him into custody, Alvarez allegedly fled on foot across the Route 61 median and through the Sands Ford property into a wooded area, ignoring commands to stop.
During the pursuit, one officer reportedly fell in the woods and suffered a laceration to his lower face after striking a wooden branch.
Police said Alvarez then crossed the Schuylkill River behind the dealership. Officers deployed a department-issued taser, striking Alvarez as he moved through the water, but investigators allege he removed one of the probes and continued fleeing into the wooded terrain.
An officer entered the river and continued the pursuit, eventually locating Alvarez sitting on a nearby hill. According to police, Alvarez fled again upon seeing the officer approaching.
The pursuit continued back toward the river where officers from Schuylkill Haven, Orwigsburg Police, ICE, Minersville Police, Saint Clair Police, and Schuylkill County law enforcement converged on Alvarez’s location.
Police allege Alvarez actively resisted officers during the arrest and briefly pulled an officer underwater while they attempted to take him into custody. Officers eventually restrained him after using a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu arm control technique, according to the affidavit.
Following the arrest, Alvarez was taken from the river and transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill East for treatment of multiple injuries sustained during the incident. Police said officers involved in the pursuit also suffered scratches and minor injuries from traversing the river and wooded terrain.
Alvarez was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer. Bail was denied and he was committed to Schuylkill County Prison.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26, 2026 before Magisterial District Judge Casimir T. Kosciolek in Orwigsburg.