Wanted driver leads troopers on high-speed chase

A New Jersey man wanted for DUI faces 46 charges after he led Pennsylvania State Police on a high-speed chase through three counties.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by trooper Richard Matlock of the Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, Belfast Barracks:

At 2 a.m. Wednesday, Matlock was assigned to monitor traffic traveling through an active work zone on Route 33 at the Route 191 Intersection in Stockertown, Northampton County.

Matlock observed a silver 2005 Nissan Altima bearing a New Jersey license plate traveling north in the construction zone.

The Nissan moved from the open left lane of travel into the closed right lane and began to drive straight toward him, almost striking Matlock’s patrol vehicle.

Matlock activated his lights, and at the last second the Nissan, driven by Jeffery Person, 50, swerved left and re-entered the open left lane of travel.

Matlock began to follow the Nissan as it traveled north, pursuing Person on Route 33 at a high rate of speed and passing construction workers actively working on the right lane.

Once Person passed the construction area, he moved between lanes several times, at times traveling over 100 mph and at one point slowing to almost a complete stop in the right lane.

Matlock continued to update the communications desk as the Nissan continued north and eventually left Route 33 at the Saylorsburg exit.

The Nissan failed to stop at the end of the exit ramp and traveled on Cherry Valley Road toward Old Route 115, crossing the solid double yellow dividing lines.

The Nissan turned north on Old Route 115, where it also failed to stop for the stop sign.

A patrol unit from the Troop N, Stroudsburg Barracks began to assist Matlock as the Nissan continued to travel at a high rate of speed and committing numerous vehicle code violations as it traveled along Mount Eaton Road, Kunkletown Road, Silver Springs Boulevard, Polk Township Road, HTY Road and Interchange Road (Route 209) in Monroe County.

Multiple other patrol units assisted Matlock while he continued to follow the Nissan, as a total of eight patrol units containing 15 troopers were involved in the pursuit.

Matlock was advised by the corporal from the Troop N, Stroudsburg barracks that the use of legal intervention was authorized to terminate the pursuit.

While police were traveling on Interchange Road, the Nissan traveled at a high rate of speed and was using both lanes of travel.

At an intersection, police attempted to slow the Nissan and bring it to a safe stop by using a rolling roadblock. The Nissan passed the Stroudsburg patrol unit on its left, and the patrol unit utilized a Precision Immobilization Technique to end the pursuit.

The patrol unit contacted the right rear corner of the Nissan with its left front corner, which caused the Nissan to leave the right side of the roadway directly in front of 1046 Interchange Road, near Wagner Street in Franklin Township.

The Nissan then struck a bush, mailbox, fence and a parked vehicle, where it came to rest.

Person was taken into custody.

A check showed that Person was entered as a wanted person on July 23 for driving under the influence of drugs by the Pennsylvania State Police, Lamar Barracks, and has a bench warrant for failure to appear in Clinton County.

Person faces charges on 21 counts of driving violations; 15 counts of recklessly endangering another person; five stop signs violations; and one count each for fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, careless driving and reckless driving.

He is currently incarcerated in the Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail, and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Aug. 12 before District Judge John C. Capobianco of Nazareth.