An 18-year old Tamaqua man is in custody after leading police on a harrowing chase in two separate pursuits yesterday through Tamaqua, New Ringgold, West Penn and Walker Townships.

After the three-hour ordeal ended, which resulted in numerous charges being filed, West Penn police stated that the suspect, Robert Rex, admitted to being under the influence of a controlled drug.At about 9 a.m., Tamaqua police responded to a call at 220 1/2 Penn Street. Michelle Rex reported that her son, Robert, was asleep outside in her sport utility vehicle (SUV). When police arrived, they found him sleeping in the passenger side front seat of a red 1995 Chevrolet Blazer. As officers approached the locked vehicle, Robert, who had an active warrant from Schuylkill County, sat up, put his hands in his pocket and produced the keys to the vehicle. Officers repeatedly told him to stop and not to flee.Ignoring their commands, the suspect started the vehicle and accelerated out of the parking space onto Penn Street. He then continued to drive at high rate of speed through the 200 block of Penn Street, passing pedestrians, some of which were children. Speeding through a stop sign at the intersection of Penn and Green streets, the vehicle continued through the 100 block of Penn Street, still accelerating and passing more pedestrians.At the intersection with Bowe Street, the suspect turned south onto Bowe Street without stopping at the sign in that intersection. He then traveled east in the wrong direction onto Orwigsburg Street, a one-way street.He exited onto Hunter Street, with officers in pursuit in an unmarked police vehicle with emergency lights and audible siren activated. Officers caught up with vehicle as it turned onto Hunter Street.The driver then turned right (west) abruptly in front of the pursuing police vehicle, causing the police vehicle to strike the rear passenger side of the Blazer. The damaged vehicle continued to flee from police, pulling onto Anthracite Avenue, an unpaved dirt road, and escaping.Officers then terminated any further pursuit due to the driver's reckless actions and disregard for the safety of others.Michelle Rex, the owner of the vehicle, had reported to officers that Robert had taken the keys for her vehicle from inside her home without her knowledge. She stated that he did not have, or has ever had, permission to use her vehicle and advised officers that her vehicle had been stolen by Robert. Tamaqua police then issued a BOLO (Be On The Look Out) for Robert and the vehicle.Three hours later, while checking out leads that Robert was seen at the Pines Housing Development in West Penn, West Penn Police Officer Melissa Boyer observed a vehicle matching the description driving west on Summer Valley Road (SR895) past the development. A low-speed pursuit transpired.When the suspect came upon Orwigsburg Police at the SR895 and SR443 intersection in New Ringgold, Robert still refused to stop and sped away at a high rate of speed, passing through a construction site. This chase led police on to Cold Run Road, then on to an unpaved gravel state game land access road.The vehicle proceeded through a closed gate, hitting numerous trees and a few poles. This action caused damage to West Penn's pursuing police cruiser. With a shattered windshield, the suspect continued on to Shady Lane, then Swap Road onto Valley Road. He then backed into the front of the West Penn K-9 Unit vehicle, damaging the front push bar.The vehicle then pulled onto a field located at the intersection of Kettle Road, where the suspect jumped out of the still-moving vehicle and fled on foot. Pursuing officers from Tamaqua Police and the Schuylkill County Sheriff's office were able to subdue him and take him into custody. State police also assisted with the foot pursuit.The suspect had minor scratches, but was checked out by Tamaqua and Penn Mahoning Ambulance. He was then sent for a follow-up check at Saint Luke's Hospital in Coaldale by request of West Penn Police for a BAC (blood alcohol content) test.Charges from Tamaqua police include theft of a motor vehicle, felony 3; receiving stolen property, felony 3; fleeing or attempting to elude police officers, felony 3; two counts of simple assault, misdemeanor; two counts of recklessly endangering another person, misdemeanor; unauthorized use of an automobile, misdemeanor; reckless driving, summary offense; driving vehicle at an unsafe speed, summary offense; drivers required to be licensed, summary offense; two counts of ignoring stop signs and yield signs, summary offense; and driving the wrong way on a one-way street, summary offense.Multiple other charges are pending from West Penn Township Police.The suspect was arraigned on Tamaqua's charges in front of District Justice Steven Bayer, where bail was set at $25,000 straight cash. He was unable to post bail and was transported to Pottsville Prison by the Schuylkill County Sheriffs.