A Tamaqua man is in jail after leading state police on a chase that ended when the man’s vehicle careened down an embankment.

Troopers said Samuel Stanley, 30, was wanted on a warrant issued in Florida. He was also in possession of suspected illegal drugs.

According to state police, troopers were in Tamaqua at 9:21 p.m. Jan. 23 when they noticed a pickup with a broken headlight. Troopers began to follow the vehicle and saw it turn in front of oncoming traffic, then pull to the side of Mauch Chunk Street, where a woman exited.

Troopers initiated a traffic stop but said the vehicle, which was driven by Stanley, took off at a high rate of speed. Stanley traveled north on Mauch Chunk Street, made a right onto Pine Street, then drove through a muddy area between the two streets. Police said Stanley then drove the wrong way on Mauch Chunk Street, passed the Five Points intersection and continued south on Route 309 before turning onto Spruce Street as officers continued their pursuit.

Police said Stanley drove the wrong way on Cherry Street, which is a one-way street. When he came to a dead-end curve in the road, he placed his vehicle in reverse and struck a utility pole. He then drove forward and continued down into an embankment where his vehicle came to a rest between two trees, police said.

Stanley was placed under arrest and told police he had a warrant out of Florida.

Police verified the warrant, which was for in-state pickup only. They also said he was driving without a valid driver’s license.

While searching the vehicle, police said they found a wristlet containing a small bag with suspected methamphetamine, three buprenorphine and Naloxone sublingual films, four white bags imprinted with a skull and a hypodermic needle.

Stanley was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, flight to avoid apprehension, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without a license and several summary traffic offenses.

He was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer in Tamaqua, and sent to the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.