MOUNT CARMEL - An 18-year-old borough man who led police on a 25-minute foot pursuit earlier this month was arraigned on five separate cases Wednesday, including one involving his flight from police.
Brandon Chapman, 18, of South Walnut Street, Mount Carmel, was placed in Northumberland County Prison following Wednesday's arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, of Mount Carmel. His cases, all filed by Mount Carmel Borough Police patrolman David Donkochik, are scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 5 before Jones.
On Nov. 2, Chapman led officers on a 25-minute chase through several properties in the northeast section of the borough after Donkochik attempted to arrest him on a warrant issued earlier that day for a parole violation.
After encountering Chapman at Fourth and Chestnut streets, Donkochik explained to Chapman there was a warrant for his arrest.
"When I went to put handcuffs on him, he ran," Donkochik said.
Chapman was caught on a culm bank north of Midway Field within a half-hour after constable Larry Rompallo and officers from Mount Carmel, Mount Carmel Township, Ralpho Township and Kulpmont surrounded the area.
The Mount Carmel teen was charged Wednesday with resisting arrest, escape and flight to avoid apprehension in the case.
Stolen iPod, coins
Chapman also faces charges of receiving stolen property and giving false reports to law enforcement authorities following an Oct. 27 incident when he and another individual, Richard R. Workman, 19, of 317 E. Columbia Avenue, allegedly sold a stolen iPod mp3 player to the GameStop store in Coal Township for $68.80.
Chapman reportedly told police he never had any type of device and was not at the store during the time of the incident. Store surveillance footage showed Workman and Chapman at the store. Chapman then told police a juvenile male gave him the iPod and used Workman's identification to sell it.
Workman was charged with receiving stolen property. He was arraigned and waived his preliminary hearing Wednesday and was released after posting his signature as bail.
The iPod crime occurred a few hours after Chapman waived his preliminary hearing on charges of theft and receiving stolen property concerning the Sept. 19 theft of several coins owned by his mother, Angela Chapman.
Vehicle theft
Brandon Chapman was also arraigned Wednesday on charges of criminal conspiracy to commit theft, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and a related criminal conspiracy charge, and possession of a small amount of marijuana, following a vehicle theft on South Hickory Street on Oct. 22.
Donkochik charged Chapman after the teen allegedly rode around Shamokin with two other individuals in a vehicle stolen in Mount Carmel before abandoning the vehicle in a lumber yard. The three allegedly were smoking marijuana at the time.
Chapman was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after he was allegedly found in the area of South Oak Street on Sept. 5 with a wooden smoking pipe containing burnt residue.
Stolen GPS
He also faces charges of theft from a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property. According to court documents, Donkochik said Chapman was standing near Jones's office Sept. 27 when police approached him to serve a warrant. A search of a backpack he was carrying found a GPS unit inside with no power cord.
Chapman allegedly told police he removed the unit from an unlocked vehicle on North Locust Street, and he was in the area to steal items from vehicles, according to court documents.
When asked what happened to the GPS unit, Chapman told police that his mother picked up his bag with the GPS unit inside from the Magistrate's office while he was taken into custody. After getting out of jail 10 days later, Chapman said he discarded the device in a dumpster to avoid police catching him with it.