Homeless man arrested after high-speed chase, crash in Wilkes-Barre

Aug. 23--WILKES-BARRE -- A homeless man faces more than a dozen charges after he allegedly led police on a high-speed chase through city streets, crashed his vehicle and threatened officers after he was apprehended.

City police officer Richard Harding said in a criminal complaint that he pulled over Ryan A. Jones, 32, at about 8:20 p.m. Friday on South Main Street at Parrish Street after seeing Jones' vehicle had no inspection sticker on the windshield.

Jones could not produce a driver's license, vehicle registration or insurance, identified himself as Malik Ali Jones and said he was homeless but that he had a driver's license. However, but the name and birth date he provided did not match any driver records when Harding checked with Luzerne County 911, he said.

When backup officers arrived with a mobile LiveScan fingerprint unit, Jones became agitated, started his car and drove off, with officers in pursuit, Harding said.

Jones drove north on South Main Street at a high rate of speed, turned onto Dana Street, drove through a red light at Pennsylvania Avenue, turned onto Park Avenue and then onto Hazle Street, and crashed into a utility pole, fence and vehicle parked inside the fenced area near Jones Street, Harding said.

Officers then pursued Jones, who fled on foot down Essex Lane, and Harding exited his vehicle upon spotting Jones and drew his Taser. Jones obeyed Harding's commands and was taken into custody, Harding said.

Jones then threatened officers and said he would "knock you the (expletive) out" when his handcuffs were removed, Harding said.

Police found an envelope in Jones' vehicle addressed to him and were able to confirm his identity. They determined he was wanted out of Harrisburg Probation and Parole on a burglary charge and that he has "violent tendencies, with a propensity for firearms and assault," Harding said.

Jones was charged with felony counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police, flight to avoid apprehension and escape, misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, providing false ID to law enforcement and making false reports, and eight summary traffic violations.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Donald Whittaker and denied bail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 1 in Luzerne County Central Court.

Contact the writer:

[email protected]

570-821-2110; @MocarskyCV

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