FRACKVILLE - A 29-year-old Ashland man wanted by borough police for escape and also for outstanding warrants from the Schuylkill County Domestic Relations Office was apprehended Wednesday
William Smith, whose last known address was 1308 Walnut St., was taken into custody by domestic relations officers and deputies from the Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office.
He was arraigned by Senior Magisterial District Judge Elizabeth Romig, Frackville, on charges of escape, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension or punishment, possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct filed by Ashland police Patrolman Daniel Weikel III.
In addition, domestic relations officers said they plan to charge Smith with failure to appear for missing scheduled court proceedings.
Romig ordered Smith be held in Schuylkill County Prison after he was unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.
Weikel said that charges stem from an incident July 4 near the Pioneer Tunnel, 19th and Walnut streets, when he received a call from county sheriff Capt. Dennis Kane, who spotted Smith in a park possibly taking drugs and said Smith may have outstanding domestic relation warrants against him.
Weikel said he found Smith, who denied taking drugs and admitted to the warrants but said they were "being taken care of."
Weikel said he told Smith that he was going to have him sit in the borough police cruiser while he checked on the warrants, but when he opened the door, Smith began to pull away.
The officer then told Smith he was under arrest and to stop resisting, but Smith continued to pull away and eventually ran down 19th Street.
Weikel said he ran after Smith and discharged his Taser. Although one of the probes struck Smith in the back, the man continued to run until he was out of sight, Weikel said.
Weikel said he and officers from Butler Township searched the area but couldn't find Smith.
Domestic relations officers said Smith had been on the run since the time of the Ashland incident.