A Summit Hill man is facing multiple criminal charges following two incidents in his hometown.

Vincent J. Valentini II, 48, has been charged for an incident on Aug. 11 and a second incident on Oct. 22.

According to police:

On Aug. 11 about 9:08 p.m. police observed 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.

For that incident he has been charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, escape, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving under suspension, reckless driving, careless driving, required financial responsibility, unauthorized transfer of registration, and duties at stop signs.

Fleeing police

The second incident occurred on Oct. 11. Police said in the area of Oak and Holland streets, officers observed 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.

As a result Valentini was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, driving without lights to avoid identification, driving on the right side of the roadway, duties at stop signs, emerging from an alleyway or driveway, careless driving, reckless driving, and driving under suspension.