An Irwin motorcyclist accused of leading police on a high-speed chase for 5 miles Tuesday between West Newton and Rostraver was arrested on multiple criminal and traffic charges, including illegal possession of cocaine and stimulants.
Anthony E. Faloona, 29, was arraigned before District Judge Charles Christner on seven counts of possession of a controlled substance and single counts of fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed and illegally crossing the centerline filed by West Newton Police.
Sgt. Anthony Gillingham reported that, on a traffic enforcement detail at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday along the 200 block of West Main Street, he clocked Faloona’s Harley Davidson motorcycle at 53 mph in the 25 mph zone.
Gillingham reported he attempted to pull Faloona over, but “the driver of this motorcycle failed and refused to stop and began passing other motor vehicles at extreme high rates of speed … traveling into the opposite lanes while negotiating around several sharp curves in the roadway.”
According to court documents, Faloona was pursued 5 miles along routes 136, 201 and 51 into Rostraver.
“(Faloona) drove into the Willowbrook Shopping Plaza on Route 51 and attempted to hide behind the Shop ‘n Save, where he was taken into custody,” Gillingham wrote.
Court documents said police confiscated two “small” plastic bags containing suspected cocaine and five Dextroamphetamine pills from his pockets. Police said Faloona does not have a prescription for the stimulant used to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Rostraver and Smithton police departments assisted, Gillingham said.
Christner ordered Faloona held in the Westmoreland County Prison after he failed to post $5,000 bond.
