Collier man sentenced to 12 years for heroin distribution

A Collier man was sentenced this week to 12 years in federal prison for having $376,000 worth of heroin in his Porsche SUV. The drugs were found by police after a high-speed chase on Route 28 five years ago, according to federal prosecutors.

William Thompson, 37, previously pleaded guilty of possession with the intent to distribute a kilogram or more of heroin, U.S. Attorney Scott. W. Brady said.

Thompson was taken into custody Aug. 7, 2015.

On that day, police had attempted to stop Thompson, who was operating a Porsche Cheyenne without a license.

Authorities said Thompson fled from narcotics detectives and rammed an unmarked police SUV near downtown Pittsburgh. They said he then took off through the North Side and up Route 28 in his SUV, sideswiping three vehicles and eventually crashing near the 40th Street Bridge ramp in Millvale.

During the chase, Thompson reached speeds of more than 100 miles per hour, police said.

Police said Thompson ran from the crash scene and was arrested after a five-hour manhunt.

After his prison sentence, Thompson will have five years of supervised release, prosecutors said.