A man is in custody after he led police on a high-speed chase that spanned several municipalities early this morning.

Coaldale Borough police officers arrested Jonathan Merced, no known address, for the incident which began shortly before 1 a.m. in the area of Miner Street in the borough.

According to the police department, the officer observed a silver Kia van with minor traffic violations.

Upon running the registration through the Schuylkill County Communications Center, it was learned that the vehicle was reported stolen from Fountain Hill near Bethlehem.

In an attempt to initiate a vehicle stop, Merced sped away at a high rate of speed, refusing to stop, and nearly struck a passing vehicle while entering onto Route 209.

The vehicle continued to travel into Tamaqua at a high rate of speed, making numerous turns in an attempt to elude officers.

At one point, the vehicle swerved at and struck the front driver side area of a Tamaqua police car that was attempting to assist.

The vehicle continued to travel south on Route 309 into West Penn Township at speeds in excess of 100 mph, before it lost control near the intersection of Ridge Cup Road and crashed.

No officers were injured during the incident.

Merced was arraigned before on-call District Judge David Plachko of Port Carbon, and has been charged with aggravated assault; simple assault, fleeing or attempting to elude police; recklessly endangering another person; reckless driving; careless driving; receiving stolen property; possession of cocaine; and various other summary traffic violations.

The investigation is ongoing and additional charges will be filed.

Merced, 19, is also wanted on a warrant from the Bethlehem City Police Department for fraud charges.