St. Clair man accused of leading police on chase while his license was suspended

A St. Clair man was arrested Tuesday after township police said he led them on a chase while his license was suspended, according to court papers.

Shane Robert Hillegas, 25, is charged with fleeing from police, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and summary traffic offenses.

Police were on patrol at 4:30 p.m. when an officer spotted Hillegas, whose license has previously been suspended on a drunken-driving charge, driving a motorcycle on Ligonier Street, according to court papers. Police said they tried to make a traffic stop, but Hillegas continued onto Route 711.

He passed another vehicle in a no-passing zone during the mile-long chase at about 60 mph, according to court papers. Hillegas lost control near his Montana Drive home and crashed with the motorcycle lying on one of his legs when police apprehended him.

Investigators said he resisted arrest after the officer and a bystander lifted the motorcycle off Hillegas. It was unclear from court papers if he was hurt in the crash.

Hillegas is free on $15,000 unsecured bail. A May 21 preliminary hearing is set. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records and could not be reached.

Hillegas applied for a probationary program in Indiana County court on a drunken-driving charge stemming from an incident in September, according to online court records. St. Clair police cited him in April for driving on a suspended license. A summary trial is set for next month in that case.