UPPER SAUCON TWP., Pa. — Police have identified the driver who fled a traffic stop in Upper Saucon Township on Monday afternoon and later crashed his vehicle into a street sign and fled on foot.
Three police departments hunted for Sampson Snottee Nyawkun, 21, who was taken into custody on the side of Interstate 78.
According to state police:
About 12:15 p.m., police made a traffic stop on Nyawkun's vehicle on I-78 westbound in Upper Saucon Township for an unspecified vehicle code violation, according to State Police Troop M Public Information Officer Nathan Branosky.
Nyawkun fled the scene with a female passenger in his vehicle and troopers began their pursuit, conducting a Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) maneuver at the intersection of Pike Avenue and Vera Cruz Road / Oakhurst Drive, in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County. Nyawkun's vehicle struck a street sign and he fled on foot into nearby woods.
Pennsylvania State Police troopers were joined by officers from the Upper Saucon Township, Emmaus police departments to search for Nyawkun, with Lehigh County Special Operations contributing surveillance from a drone.
Nyawkun was apprehended and charged with fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, evading arrest or detention on foot, distribution of small amount of marijuana/not for sale, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and recklessly endangering another person.
Bail was set at $5,000 and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5.