More charges filed against unarmed driver wounded by Pa. troopers after pursuit
LOCK HAVEN — Additional charges have been filed against the unarmed driver who state police wounded following a pursuit that ended on Interstate 80 in Clinton County.
Filed Tuesday against Jordan Lantz, 36, of Williamsport, were 15 counts of recklessly endangering another person and three of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
Those charges were added to those of attempted aggravated assault by vehicle, fleeing an officer, driving at an unsafe, driving while license suspended, recklessly endangering another person and reckless and careless driving on which he is awaiting trial.
Lantz was wounded May 24 after state police disabled his pickup truck near Loganton following a pursuit that began on Route 15 in Union County.
The pickup came to rest on its side after a trooper conducted a maneuver with his vehicle to disable it.
Three troopers fired a total of 23 rounds into the truck after a report of a gun, with one of the bullets striking Lantz in the upper right leg. No gun was found in the truck, police said.
Police body cam videos seen by PennLive show troopers surrounding the truck, trying to break the windows and yelling such things as “hands up,” “show your hands” and “open the door.”
One trooper says, “he’s moving,” and another is heard twice saying, “Is that a gun?” after which multiple shots are heard. Yells of “shots fired” and “take cover” can then be heard.
Clinton County District Attorney David Strouse has ruled the shooting was justified. He noted Lantz refused to comply with police commands, and the tinted windows made it difficult for them to see inside the truck.
A trooper observed Lantz move into the rear passenger compartment and brandish an item he believed to be a firearm and announced “gun,” the DA’s report states.
Investigators during the pursuit and the shooting, pbserved Lantz was speaking on his cell phone, Strouse said. That person reported hearing Lantz yell he was armed, he said.
The arrest affidavit provides these details of the pursuit:
Trooper Navid Abhaisingh, while running radar on Route 15 near Joe Road in White Deer Twp., Union County, about 8:10 p.m., recorded a Ford F-150 doing 83 in the 55 zone.
The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued west over the White Deer Pike and onto Interstate 80 at the Jersey Shore interchange. Speeds on I-80 exceeded 100 miles an hour.
Stop sticks were deployed, but the pickup continued west on I-80. It sideswiped a heavy-duty wrecker pulling a disabled recreational vehicle while the driver passed on the right. The immobilization maneuver was then conducted.
The driver of the wrecker is listed as the victim of the aggravated assault charge. Lantz’s license had been suspended due to a driving under the influence conviction.
Lantz is free on $200,000 unsecured bail.