A Lehighton man has been charged with drug possession after leading police on a chase through Franklin Township.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by officer Christopher Lekka of the Franklin Township Police Department in the case against David Mirabelli:

At 11:03 p.m. March 27, Lekka was dispatched to investigate a suicidal man, identified as Mirabelli, 39, for whom a warrant was issued.

Lekka requested assistance from the Lehighton Police Department. Sgt. Scott Prebozniak and officers Bruce Broyles and Joel Gulla responded.

Lekka received a call saying that a warrant was being issued for Mirabelli’s arrest, and that Mirabelli had also indicated that he would commit “suicide by cop.”

Officers arrived in the 1600 block of Green Street to execute the warrant, where Lekka observed a gray Mazda parked in the driveway with the engine running and the parking lights on.

Mirabelli refused to roll the driver’s window down to talk to police.

He then began cursing and shouting, “I’m going to do something to make you shoot me!”

Mirabelli then began revving the engine. Lekka positioned his patrol unit directly in front of the Mazda and Gulla placed his patrol unit as close to the rear of the vehicle as possible in an attempt to prevent Mirabelli from fleeing.

Mirabelli again he refused to roll the window down and continued to curse at them.

Mirabelli then reversed his Mazda, nearly striking Prebozniak, forcing him to jump out of the way to avoid being struck and drove past Lekka’s marked patrol car and fled. Officers followed the vehicle to conduct a traffic stop.

Mirabelli made a series of turns and then drove through the front yard of a property on Green Street, nearly striking the front porch of the home with his vehicle.

The Lehighton officer positioned the cruiser to the left rear of the Mazda, causing minor damage to the front passenger side bumper, while Lekka positioned his cruiser to the right front of the vehicle.

Officers approached Mirabelli’s vehicle and ordered him to open the car door and get out. He refused. Police broke the glass on the driver’s side window and the right rear window.

After Mirabelli’s driver’s side was opened by Prebozniak, Mirabelli finally got out of the car and was placed into custody.

On the passenger’s seat was a clear plastic bag containing suspected marijuana and a plastic pipe.

Mirabelli was then transported to St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus. He said the reason for his conduct was brought about by a recent breakup with his girlfriend; recent termination from his employment; and possible child custody issues with his son, and banged his head off the partition on two occasions.

Mirabelli also attributed his current issues to poor decision making, which included smoking marijuana earlier in the evening.

Mirabelli was transferred to the emergency room staff at St. Luke’s, where he told the ER doctor that the reason for his actions was because he wanted a test for coronavirus, but was denied at several different hospitals.

Mirabelli’s medical records were received and indicated a positive reading for the presence of methamphetamine and THC. One bag of green, leafy vegetable matter (alleged marijuana) was transported to PSP-Wyoming Crime Laboratory for submission and analysis.

The drug identification report for the sealed plastic bag found in Mirabelli’s vehicle was received on May 29. The bag weighed 4.42 grams and contained marijuana.

Mirabelli faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude officer; DUI controlled substance; aggravated assault; recklessly endangering person; resisting arrest/other law enforcement; and duties at stop sign.