A Tamaqua woman wanted for a parole violation faces charges of fleeing from police, while her boyfriend was charged with helping her to get away, borough police said.

According to Tamaqua police, officers were sent to a home on the 300 block of North Elizabeth Street at 4:30 p.m. Feb. 15 after learning that Brianna Werley, 26, was there. Police said Werley has an active warrant for her arrest.

When officers arrived, they knocked on the door and saw Werley’s boyfriend, Dillan Zehner, 32, exit the home with a Children and Youth case worker. Police asked whether Werley was inside, and Zehner said she was not. The case worker disputed the claim, saying that Werley was there.

Police told Zehner that he could allow police to enter the home or they could get a search warrant. Zehner said he would go into the home and bring Werley outside.

Police said Zehner returned to the home but did not come back to the front door. After 30 minutes of waiting, Tamaqua police secured the home with assistance from Coaldale Police and Schuylkill County adult probation officers. A Tamaqua officer then successfully applied for a search warrant.

While outside the home, officers yelled that they had the search warrant. When Zehner opened the door, he was placed in handcuffs and asked where Werley was. Zehner claimed that he did not know but that she was not at the home. He admitted that she had been there with the case worker but had left after he first spoke to police. He also said he was aware of the arrest warrant and scared that Werley would go to jail.

Officers searched the home but did not find Werley. They said windows had tarps over them, and the back door had been screwed shut to prevent anyone from entering. Zehner said he screwed the doors shut and barricaded them with chairs to prevent police from entering.

According to police, Zehner again told officers that he did not know Werley’s whereabouts. He was taken into custody.

Further investigation revealed that Zehner did not change his license address to reflect his move to Elizabeth Street. Police said he had been living at the home since at least July when he witnessed Werley overdose.

He was charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, and notice of change of address.

Werley will be charged with flight to avoid apprehension, obstructing administration of law or other governmental functions, and evading arrest or detention on foot.