Crime & Safety

High Speed Chase on Rt. 378 Leads to Charges

A Bethlehem man accused of eluding a traffic stop in Lower Saucon Township on July 4 now faces multiple charges.

A Bethlehem man who eluded a Lower Saucon Township police officer on a high-speed chase during the early morning hours of July 4 is in prison on suspicion of multiple infractions, according to court records.

Laquan Marquise Knolton, 23, of 484 Birkel Ave., allegedly fled north on Route 378 into Bethlehem driving at well over 60 mph after the Lower Saucon officer attempted to stop him with police lights at N. Mountain Drive, according to the arrest warrant against him.

According to the affidavit of probable cause:

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  • Lower Saucon Patrolman Eric Marth spotted Knolton’s car driving past him as he was parked on the shoulder of Route 378 just south of Black River Road at a little after 1 a.m. on July 4.
  • The car’s registration had expired in March 2011. A vehicle check showed that the owner – Knolton – had a suspended driver’s license.
  • When Marth pulled behind the vehicle with police lights at N. Mountain Drive, Knolton sped away. The pursuing police car was traveling at least double the posted 30 mph speed limit.
  • Knolton’s car passed other vehicles across the double yellow line and continued into Bethlehem, turning right at the Five Points intersection onto W. Fourth Street. Marth lost sight of the car there.
  • Marth and Bethlehem officers visited Knolton’s Birkel Avenue home where the car he had pursued was parked on the curb and still warm and smelled of burning brakes. Knolton did not answer the door.

Knolton was apprehended Saturday morning and charged with fleeing or eluding a police officer, reckless endangerment and multiple vehicular offenses. He was arraigned before weekend duty District Judge James Narlesky and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail.


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