A New Jersey man has been charged after leading state police on a multi-county chase.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Anthony Kingsley:

At 2:09 p.m. Feb. 27, troopers saw a green and black 1994 BMW driven by Yauheni Lupachyk, 31 of Lincoln Park, come south on Maple Drive.

He stopped at a sign and turned onto Third Street into Palmerton. The car had a loud broken exhaust and the left rear taillight was not working. Police initiated a traffic stop on Third Street near Columbia Avenue.

As police got out of the car, Lupachyk took off, heading south on Third Street.

Police began to pursue him. Lupachyk was traveling at about 40-50 mph and continued on Columbia Avenue, Franklin Avenue and Mauch Chunk Road, went through a red light at Mauch Chunk Road and went west on Delaware Avenue toward Route 248.

Lupachyk went east on 248 reaching speeds of 80 mph, and entered Lehigh Township, Northampton County, going south on Route 873 and entered Washington Township, Lehigh County and proceeded west onto Mountain Road.

The vehicle stopped about three-quarters of a mile on Mountain Road. When troopers got out of the car, Lupachyk put the vehicle into reverse and drove downhill on Mountain Road about 40 mph to 873.

Lupachyk turned onto Williams Street, and Center Street. Police executed a PIT maneuver, disabling the car.

Lupachyk was placed in handcuffs. He said he was a heroin user, and related that there is possibly some heroin and drug paraphernalia located inside the vehicle in the back seat floor.

Lupachyk said that Michael Conklin, the passenger, had no part of the drugs.

Kingsley spoke with Conklin, who said that he was hanging out with Lupachyk when he asked him to go for a ride. Conklin said that Lupachyk visited a house by Country Junction where he used drugs, and that he believes there is a “ghost” firearm owned by Lupachyk located inside the vehicle. Kingsley saw one handgun caliber ammunition on the driver’s seat.

Troopers obtained a search warrant and seized a black and tan 9 mm Polymer pistol; 16 9 mm ball Luger ammunition; a black 9 mm 16-round magazine; 2 black cobra walkie-talkies; a black whistle police scanner; two blue wax baggies filled with heroin; a metal grinder filled with suspected marijuana; a clear glass smoking device; a clear plastic bag filled with suspected methamphetamine; two orange/purple straws; three blue wax baggies; a black plastic box filled with drug paraphernalia; 15 DeWalt Sawzall blades; a black pry bar; a Hart cordless sawzall with battery; a Hart cordless impact with battery; a DeWalt cordless sawzall; and eight catalytic converters.

On March 1, Kingsley interviewed Conklin, who said that Lupachyk asked him to go for a ride. He said they stole eight catalytic converters from Country Junction Ashley Furniture parking lot. Conklin said he was on the lookout while Lupachyk went under the vehicle and cut out the catalytic converters.

Lupachyk faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude officer; driving under influence of alcohol/controlled substance; reckless driving; careless driving; recklessly endangering another person; and equipment violations.

Lupachyk is incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $250,000 straight bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing March 9 before District Judge William J. Kissner of Palmerton.