SH man tried to hide identity with wig; arrested on warrant

A Summit Hill man was arrested on Jan. 21 on a warrant after he tried to elude police.

Borough police said at 3:48 p.m. officers saw a red Chevrolet Silverado truck traveling east on Route 902.

Police knew the driver and identified him as Joseph R. Kosalko, 41. Police also knew there was an active warrant for his arrest issued to the sheriff’s department for failure to appear. Police had received information that Kosalko had been attempting to conceal his identity in public by wearing a woman’s wig with long black hair.

Police attempted a traffic stop but the Silverado accelerated at a high rate of speed.

Police said the truck eventually turned up a dirt driveway along White Bear Drive. Police saw Kosalko get out of the truck with what appeared to be a black wig in his hand and fled into nearby woods. He was later located in the woods and taken into custody without incident. Lying next to him was a black woman’s wig and a pair of sunglasses, police said.

Kosalko was taken to the police station where he waived his rights and provided a written statement. He denied that he was trying to conceal his identity but admitted he knew about the warrant for his arrest.

A check revealed that the registration plate on his vehicle was for a 2002 Ford truck and had expired in June 2018.

He was charged with flight to avoid apprehension and unauthorized transfer or use of registration plate.

He was committed to the county prison in Nesquehoning on the warrant but has since been released on bail.