Shamokin chief, 2nd officer hurt in trying to apprehend suspect, believed high on heroin

SHAMOKIN - A Kulpmont man has been charged with aggravated assault and other offenses after he allegedly crashed his vehicle and led police on a foot chase in which two officers were injured.

Jonathan Morgante, 24, of 622 Spruce St., was arraigned by video at 4 p.m. Sunday by on-call Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on multiple charges.

Patrolman William Zalinski charged Morgante with aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and reckless driving relating to incidents that began at approximately 10:30 a.m. at Commerce and Franklin streets.

According to witnesses, Morgante was driving a vehicle that struck a telephone pole at the northwest corner of Commerce and Franklin streets. Police said Morgante's vehicle came to a stop on the north pavement in the middle of the 500 block of Commerce Street.

Upon approaching Morgante, police said the driver was disoriented and displayed an extremely unsteady gait. Police walked Morgante to a cruiser and advised him

that he was under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. They attempted to place handcuffs on Morgante's wrist, but at this point, Morgante pulled away from Zalinski in an attempt to flee.

Chief of Police John Brown and Patrolman Nathan Rhodes assisted Zalinski in an attempt to take the defendant into custody, but Morgante continued to fight with the officers by swinging his elbows and pulling away, police said.

Morgante and Brown fell to the ground during the struggle, at which point Rhodes said he was going to "Taser" Morgante, who was let go by Brown. But Morgante got to his feet and ran north on Franklin Street. Rhodes deployed the Taser onto Morgante's back, but was unsuccessful in detaining him.

Rhodes pursued Morgante to the 800 block of North Franklin Street, where Rhodes tripped and fell to the ground, injuring his knee.

Zalinski advised Jason Zimmerman, a member of Shamokin Emergency Squad, to pursue Morgante, who turned west onto Dewart Street. Chief Brown, who had proceeded north on Shamokin Street in a police car, caught up with Morgante at Shamokin and Cameron streets, where he tackled the defendant, who was still trying to escape. Brown suffered a laceration on his right hand during the altercation with Morgante.

Police were then able to take Morgante into custody.

Upon searching Morgante, police found an empty heroin packet and metal spoon commonly used to heat and ingest heroin. Police later located a syringe that Zimmerman spotted Morgante throw into a sewer at Shamokin and Dewart streets.

During an interview with police, Morgante said he purchased three packets of heroin at about 10:15 a.m. Sunday and then drove to a wooded area south of the 400 block of South Harrison Street, where he injected himself intravenously with all three packets of heroin.

Morgante said he attempted to drive back to his residence in Kulpmont, and that is when he struck the utility pole at Commerce and Franklin.

Morgante was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $50,000 bail.

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