BUTLER TOWNSHIP - A Shamokin man was apprehended Friday after he allegedly led police on a high-speed chase through Butler Township, Luzerne County, crashed his vehicle and fled on foot.
According to state police at Hazleton, troopers attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Shawn Latshaw, 26, after he traveled 63 m.p.h. in a 45 m.p.h. zone on Route 309 near St. Johns Road around 9 p.m. Friday. Police said Latshaw refused to stop and drove on Foothills Drive and Freedom Road at speeds ranging from 90 to 100 mph.
Just before Latshaw reached Freeland Mountain Road, police said he failed to negotiate a left turn and crashed into a guide cable. Police said he ran into the woods but was located 10 minutes later by officers. Assisting at the scene were other state police units and Freeland and Butler Township police.
Police said Latshaw fled because he had a suspended license and a charge of suspicion of driving under the influence of cocaine.
He will be charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, fleeing and attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment and numerous summary traffic violations, police said. He was committed to the Luzerne County prison in lieu of $3,000 straight cash bail.
Friday's incident was not the first time that Latshaw was involved in a chase with police. In July 2008, Latshaw led Mount Carmel Township Police on a chase after he and a relative stole scrap metal from the Kerris and Helfrick property in Diamondtown, and then led police in a case through the streets of Mount Carmel and then into a wooded area off of Seventh Street in the borough. He later pled guilty to a charge of loitering and prowling at night and sentenced to 3 to 12 months in prison.