A Seward man is charged with dozens of traffic offenses after leading several Blair County police agencies on a two-hour chase after a traffic stop Tuesday night in Hollidaysburg.
43-year-old Jonathan Thoma fled Hollidaysburg Borough Police who attempted to stop him for speeding on a city street at about 4:30 Tuesday afternoon. He stopped after three blocks and ran away on foot, but returned to his vehicle and drove away, fleeing onto Route 22, into several municipalities, exiting of the vehicle again in Allegheny Township. He ran away on foot, but was caught at about 6:30 near some Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. Police said that at one point during the pursuit, Thoma had driven directly head-on at two police cruisers.
A woman with Thoma, 43-year-old Alicia Jarvie of Seward, remained in their vehicle and gave police a false ID for Thoma, saying he was “Jonathan Tillman”, possibly to evade a bench warrant for which Thoma has been a fugitive since July. That involved a probation violation in a theft case. Jarvie is charged with hindering apprehension.
Thoma is charged with one felony, for fleeing and eluding; three misdemeanors, for recklessly endangering another person; and 57 summary traffic violations. He’s being held on $75,000 bond and will also be held for Cambria County authorities.
