A Moosic man is in jail after leading Jermyn and state police on a chase Monday in which troopers said speeds reached at least 115 mph.

Paul M. Donovan, 33, 408 Minooka Ave., also drove his 2003 Pontiac Vibe into a state police vehicle during the pursuit and, once captured, threatened to kill Jermyn Officer Dane Sorensen and Pennsylvania Ambulance EMT David Flynn, according to a criminal complaint.

"Cops' lives don't matter," Mr. Donovan told Officer Sorensen, according to the complaint.

The incident began at 9:06 p.m., when Officer Sorensen tried to pull over Mr. Donovan after watching him turn without using signals and for crossing over painted lines on Rushbrook Street.

Mr. Donovan didn't stop and entered the Casey Highway headed toward Scranton. Officer Sorensen radioed the Lackawanna County Communications Center and said Mr. Donovan would not stop. He heard the state police would use "stop sticks," a spiked strip meant to deflate tires, to help. Using his speedometer, Officer Sorensen clocked Mr. Donovan's speed at 115 mph.

Mr. Donovan hit the spikes, swerved into a state police vehicle and entered Interstate 81 South. The pursuit ended when Mr. Donovan crashed into a concrete barrier by the Drinker Street on-ramp. The impact briefly knocked Mr. Donovan unconscious.

Once he came to, Mr. Donovan was "combative" while police tried to take him into custody and remarked he had "taken all of his medication." Once secured in an ambulance, state police found two packets of some unknown powdery substance labeled "Sandman Party Powder." They also found a straw covered in residue and noticed the same residue on Mr. Donovan's mouth.

While at the hospital, Mr. Donovan threatened to take Officer Sorensen's gun and shoot him. They also learned he had threatened Mr. Flynn while the EMT tried to treat him.

Mr. Donovan is charged with aggravated assault, driving under the influence, terroristic threats, fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving and other traffic citations.

Mr. Donovan is in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $55,000 bail, awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for Jan. 6 at 9:45 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Paul Keeler.

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