By Chuck Biedka

Published: Monday, July 16, 2012, 10:24 p.m.
Updated: Tuesday, July 17, 2012

State police said they stopped a wild chase by driving into the side of the suspect's car and then using a Taser on the driver.

Michael Potts, 38, recently of New Kensington, is accused of driving through stops signs near Kennedy Park at about 7:40 p.m. Sunday, police said.

Potts is also wanted for driving without a license and for arrest warrants including one for alleged domestic abuse and allegedly not making all payments in a domestic case, police said.

Potts is accused of speeding away instead of stopping for the flashing lights on an unmarked state police car.

Cpl. Christopher Teranna said Potts led police on a 7- to 10-minute high-speed chase around Kennedy Park, down to Route 66 and back up around the park three times at speeds reaching 60 mph.

"It got to the point that people were coming out on their porches to watch. I was concerned about public safety and the chase needed to end," Teranna said.

Teranna said he was able to bump the left side of the car driven by Potts.

The bump caused Potts' car to slam into a parked vehicle near the intersection of Walnut and Oak streets.

State police and Vandergrift officers scrambled to grab Potts and he resisted when police tried to pull him out of the driver's window. Teranna used a Taser to subdue him, the trooper said.

Potts is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and driving while his license is suspended or revoked.

He was arraigned Sunday night and was in the Westmoreland County Prison Monday in lieu of $35,500 combined bond pending a preliminary hearing.

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