Summit Hill man admits to fleeing police twice, stealing a vehicle

A Summit Hill man admitted in the county court on Thursday afternoon to fleeing police on two occasions and then being in possession of a stolen vehicle in another incident.

Vincent J. Valentini II, 48, entered guilty pleas to two counts of fleeing or attempting to elude police and one count of criminal conspiracy — theft before Judge Steven R. Serfass.

Valentini will apply for placement in the state’s Intermediate Punishment program to address an addiction problem, his legal counsel, attorney Gregory Lee Mousseau, chief public defender, told the court. If approved for the state program, which runs for two years, a defendant spends about seven months in a state prison followed by a period of time in an inpatient, intensive drug and alcohol rehabilitation program followed by a period of time in a halfway house. If he fails to complete the program he will be brought back to the county court for resentencing.

According to police on Aug. 11, 2018, at 9:08 p.m., Summit Hill police saw a blue Subaru southbound on North Chestnut Street traveling at a high rate of speed and almost striking the police cruiser head-on. The officer activated his emergency lights and siren and pursued the vehicle along Richards Avenue and Chestnut Street, failing to stop at posted stop signs. The pursuit continued on East Richards Avenue when the driver turned off the headlights on his vehicle in an attempt to avoid detection.

The pursuit continued on with more stop signs being ignored and eventually turning onto Route 902. The vehicle continued on 902 into Mahoning Township when the driver then began to pass vehicles on the left side in a no-passing zone.

The driver continued along Fritz Valley Road in a construction area and then turned around and almost hit the police cruiser head-on and caused the officer to drive off the road to avoid a collision.

Other police departments joined in the pursuit, but the driver was able to avoid arrest. Police later located the Subaru along Furnace Road in Washington Township. The vehicle had moderate damage to the front end. No one was in the vehicle.

Through the course of the investigation, Valentini developed as a suspect. A check revealed his license has been suspended. On Nov. 1 Valentini was interviewed at the county prison in Nesquehoning. He provided a written statement admitting he was the driver involved in the pursuit and said he fled because he was scared and had methamphetamine in the vehicle.

The second incident occurred on Oct. 11, 2018. Police said in the area of Oak and Holland streets, officers saw a white Honda Accord fail to stop for a posted stop sign. The vehicle then stopped in the middle of the intersection. As officers approached the stopped vehicle, the driver, who officers identified as Valentini, backed up, then pulled around the police cruiser and fled, failing to stop for another stop sign.

Police pursued the fleeing vehicle with lights and siren activated. The fleeing vehicle almost struck another vehicle as it fled. The driver of the vehicle that was almost struck told officers the Honda was near the Miners Market on Amidon Street. Police located the vehicle, which was unoccupied.

While at the scene, the defendant was observed coming around a building at the site. He was ordered to get to the ground, but refused. He ignored repeated commands to surrender, but did not and fled on foot. Other police departments responded to assist but the defendant was not found.

It was determined that Valentini was under suspension and has no valid driver’s license. Also, the registration plate on the vehicle was not for that vehicle and he had no insurance.

The vehicle stop occurred on Oct. 6, 2018, also in Summit Hill, where Valentini was charged with having taken a 1996 Ford F250 truck of a borough resident.

It was noted that Valentini has another pending criminal complaint that must be disposed of before he can enter the state program, if approved.

Valentini is currently an inmate in the county prison and will be transferred at a later date to a state correctional institution for evaluation for the state program.