A Shenandoah man was charged by Mahanoy Township police after a chase that began at 10:05 p.m. Monday.

Police said the incident began on Route 54 at the St. Nicholas Breaker, near the intersection with Route 4030, and involved Scott T. Sajda, 27, of 19 S. Bower St.Patrolman Elliott Burlett charged Sajda with felony fleeing or attempting to elude police, misdemeanor endangering another person and summary offenses of reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving, stop and yield sign violations, trespass by motor vehicle and turning movements and required signals.Butlett said he was sitting on Route 4030 in a marked police cruiser when he saw a dark Jeep Cherokee fail to stop for a clearly posted stop sign coming off Route 54.The driver, later identified as Sajda, turned right onto Route 4030 and was traveling at a high rate of speed, coming close to the police vehicle, Burlett said.The officer said he activated his emergency lights and tried to pull the vehicle over, but Sajda continued south on Route 4030 at speeds of more than 60 mph and then quickly turned right onto the private property of Reading Anthracite.While taking the back, dirt roads, Burlett said, Sajda almost lost control two times due to driving conditions and the speed he was traveling.Burlett said he notified the Schuylkill County Communications Center and about three minutes later, about 10:08 p.m., Sajda exited the dirt roads and began to travel toward Shenandoah on Route 54 at a high rate of speed.After entering Shenandoah, Burlett said, Sajda turned left onto the back streets of the borough, at which time the pursuit was ended due to the high speeds and icy road conditions.About 10:11 p.m., Burlett said he located the vehicle parked on Grant Street, near Oak Street, where Sajda abandoned it and fled the area on foot.After running the license plate, Shenandoah police Patrolman Joshua Pastucka and West Mahanoy Township police Patrolman Marvin Livergood went to a home at 19 S. Bower St. where Sajda came to the door, turned himself in and said he "should not have done that" and that he had been drinking, Burlett said.Sajda was taken to the Shenandoah police station for evaluation and then to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for a blood alcohol test.When interviewed about 12:10 a.m. Tuesday, Burlett said, Sajda admitted drinking about 12 cans of beer and smoking marijuana within 24 hours of the incident.Charges against Sajda were filed Wednesday with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker in Shenandoah.Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC