LOGANTON — Clinton County District Attorney Dave Strouse ruled an officer-involved shooting, which led to the injury of a suspect following a high-speed chase in Greene Township, was justified following a review.

According to information provided by Strouse’s office via Crimewatch, the shooting took place following a high-speed pursuit from White Deer Township in Lycoming County to Greene Township on May 24.

“After a thorough review, District Attorney Dave Strouse has determined that the law enforcement officers acted reasonably under the circumstances when they fired their weapons (at Jordan Lantz, 36, of Williamsport) in their own defense and in defense of others, and therefore bear no criminal liability for their actions,” the release stated.

As part of this review, DA Strouse and the Clinton County detectives have reviewed body camera footage, motor vehicle recorder footage, investigative reports, crash reports, witness statements and recorded interview footage, the release stated.

According to the release, members of the Pennsylvania State Police were conducting speed enforcement on May 24, on State Route 15, near the intersection with Joe Road in White Deer Township when a maroon pickup truck operated by Lantz was observed traveling south at 83 miles per hour in a 55 mile per hour zone.

“PSP began to follow Lantz and activated the patrol car’s emergency lights and sirens in the attempt to conduct a traffic stop. Lantz refused to stop the vehicle and additional members of PSP joined the vehicle pursuit upon notification of the pursuit provided by radio communication,” the release said.

Lantz then fled west on White Deer Pike and entered Interstate 80 west in the area of mile marker 192, in Clinton County, where, according to the release, he continued to flee at speeds “in excess of 100 miles per hour.”

“PSP were able to successfully deploy stop sticks on the fleeing vehicle in the area of mile marker 187. Despite the punctured tires, Lantz continued to flee,” the release said.

According to the release, he entered the right shoulder area of the highway and attempted to pass a tow truck that was towing a large recreational vehicle (RV).

“Lantz’s vehicle struck the RV and tow truck and a guardrail along the right side of the roadway. Shortly thereafter, PSP performed a Precision Immobilization Technique (PIT) on (the) pickup at mile marker 186.5. (His) vehicle was disabled near the left side of the roadway and into the median,” the release said.

Following the crash, troopers approached the vehicle from the front on both driver and passenger sides, the release said.

“Lantz refused to comply with repeated commands to show his hands and to exit the vehicle,” the release stated. “PSP were able to observe Lantz making various movements inside the vehicle, but visibility in the vehicle was low due to after-market window tint film that “blacked-out” the vehicle’s windows.”

According to the release, Lantz continued to refuse to comply with commands to show his hands and exit the vehicle when “a member of PSP observed the individual inside the vehicle move into the rear passenger compartment of the pickup and then brandish the outline of an item that he believed to be a firearm.”

Strouse’s report stated the trooper announced “gun” and “multiple rounds were fired by three members of PSP into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.”

“One of the rounds fired by PSP struck Lantz in the upper right leg. (He) was then pulled by PSP through the rear window of the vehicle and PSP immediately administered a tourniquet and first aid to Lantz’s injury as (EMS) responded,” the release stated.

The release alleges that, while Lantz was pulled from the vehicle, he “pleaded with PSP not to help him, and to just let him bleed.”

Lantz was later transported to a medical facility and was treated and eventually released, the release said. He is expected to make a full recovery from his injuries.

Additional testing on Lantz’s pickup after the incident determined that the vehicle was equipped with front window tint films that allowed only nine percent of sunlight to penetrate. Pursuant to Pennsylvania Law, front window tint can be no lower than 70 percent, the release said. The rear windows of the pickup were tinted to 22 percent.

“Investigators also learned that at the time of the pursuit and the shooting, Lantz was speaking to a witness on his cell phone. The witness reported hearing Lantz yell at PSP that he was armed and refusing commands to exit the vehicle,” the release said. “Other witnesses report that Lantz had made statements recently that he would rather commit ‘suicide by cop’ than be arrested or go to jail.”

The release further states that witnesses reported Lantz had even shown them a “toy gun” that he claimed to keep in his vehicle in case he encountered police; indicating he would brandish the gun in the hope that police would shoot and kill him.

“A search of Lantz’s vehicle following the pursuit and subsequent crash and shooting did not result in the discovery of a firearm or a ‘toy gun.’ There were several other objects in the vehicle that could have been brandished in a manner that could have appeared to be a firearm due to their size and shape and the reduced visibility as a result of the vehicle’s window tint,” the release said.

Lantz was charged with Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer, a third degree felony; Attempted Aggravated Assault, a third degree felony; Driving Under the Influence of a Controlled Substance, a misdemeanor; Recklessly Endangering Another Person, a second degree misdemeanor, and various summary traffic violations.

Lantz is currently awaiting jury selection, which is scheduled for Sept. 12.