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Blakeslee man in jail after leading police on high-speed chase

A Blakeslee man is in prison after leading police on a high-speed pursuit.

Slavomir Tomaska, 38, faces charges on two counts of recklessly endangering another person, and one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police officer; flight to avoid apprehension/trial/punishment; resist arrest/other law enforcement; reckless driving; careless driving; and duties at stop signs.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by patrolman Trevin Green of the Lehighton Borough Police Department:

Just before 8 p.m. Wednesday, Green was dispatched to the intersection of South Street and South Second Street for a suspicious man taking pictures of the liquor store at that intersection.

The man was identified as Tomaska, who presented a New Jersey driver’s license.

Green was assisted by officers Michael Svetik and Gabriel Szozda.

After determining no crime had occurred, Slavomir said he just wanted to get on Interstate 80 and get back to New Jersey, but did not know the way.

Szozda offered to lead him to the Pennsylvania Turnpike entrance in Franklin Township.

Tomaska began to follow Szozda and turned left off South Street and onto South Second Street.

Tomaska then accelerated at a very high rate of speed, moved into the oncoming lane to pass Szozda, pulled in front of him, and slammed on his brakes. Szozda had to slam on his brakes to avoid a collision.

Green activated his emergency lights and sirens to have Tomaska pull the vehicle over.

Tomaska went through the flashing red stop light at the intersection of South Second and Iron streets, and continued to speed through stop signs throughout the borough while overtaking vehicles and driving in the oncoming lane.

Tomaska turned right off Route 209 and onto Route 443, where he wove in and out of oncoming traffic, reaching speeds in excess of 80 mph.

Mahoning Township officer Amie Barclay attempted to stop Tomaska, but he went onto the shoulder of the road and continued driving on 443, heading west.

When he got to the intersection of 443 and South Ninth Street, he drove straight through the red light and eventually turned into the Giant parking lot.

He sped through the lot, where there were multiple pedestrians and vehicles. He drove all the way up to the entrance where people were coming out of the store before slamming on the brakes. Green pulled behind him as Barkley pulled in to the left of him.

Green got out of his vehicle and attempted to get Tomaska out of the car. Tomaska refused and grabbed the steering wheel and would not get out.

He continued to fight as police removed him from the vehicle and placed him into handcuffs.

The communications center was notified that Tomaska would require EMS for receiving minor cuts on his forehead as police attempted to take him into custody.

Tomaska is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 3:15 p.m. Wednesday before District Judge Eric M. Schrantz of Jim Thorpe.

Tomaska is incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 straight bail.

Tomaska