Man jailed after fleeing Mahanoy City police on side-by-side
Jun. 22—MAHANOY CITY — A Gilberton man was jailed after he allegedly fled from a Mahanoy City police officer on a side-by-side ATV and refused to get out of the vehicle despite being shot twice with a Taser.
Rodney C. Knittle Jr., 32, of 125 Quality Hill Road, was charged by Patrolman Thomas Rentschler with fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, DUI, arresting arrest, reckless driving, careless driving, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, driving at an unsafe speed, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without insurance.
Knittle was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $15,000 straight cash bail.
Rentschler said he was sitting at Main and Centre streets when he saw a black Kawasaki side-by-side traveling west at a high rate of speed. The officer said he activated his lights and siren in an attempt to stop the vehicle, but the driver failed to stop for seven blocks and approached the intersection of D and Centre streets.
Rentschler said he was able to position his vehicle alongside the Kawasaki, then get in front of it, to bring it to a stop.
Rentschler said Knittle was ordered to turn off the vehicle and get out, but refused, put the vehicle in reverse and tried to back out. He said he grabbed Knittle through the door and again ordered him to turn the machine off and get out. He again refused, the officer said.
As Rentschler struggled with Knittle, Patrolman Mindy Parker was able to reach inside the vehicle, turn it off and take the keys, police said.
After Knittle was ordered several times to open the door, Rentschler said he used his Taser, but it had no effect. Knittle was again struck with the stun gun but still did not comply, police said.
Mahanoy Township officers eventually assisted Rentschler in getting Knittle out of the vehicle, to the ground and into custody.
The defendant smelled of alcohol, and there was an open container of beer and a cooler filled with cans of beer; Knittle also had a firearm, Rentschler said.
He was taken to a Pottsville hospital for a blood-alcohol test and will appear for a preliminary hearing before Kilker.
