An Allentown man has been charged after leading police on a high-speed pursuit and crashing his vehicle in Slatington Sunday night.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Trooper Troy Van Houtten of Pennsylvania State Police, Lehighton barracks, in the case against Luis Lugo Valle:

At around 7:15 p.m. Van Houtten was sitting in a stationary position monitoring traffic on Route 248 Eastbound when he saw a blue Dodge Dakota pass and noticed that the vehicle did not have an operational driver’s side light.

Van Houtten pulled from his position and approached the vehicle from the rear. He conducted a records check and noticed that the vehicle had an expired registration, and the operator, Lugo Valle, was operating on a DUI suspended driver’s license.

Van Houtten activated his emergency lights in the area of Route 248 and the exit for Palmerton Borough. The vehicle failed to respond to his emergency lights and sirens and a pursuit was initiated. The vehicle fled at speeds upward of 80 miles per hour through narrow back roads and narrow borough streets, and also failed to stop for numerous stop signs.

The vehicle ultimately went into the borough of Slatington where it failed to negotiate a left-hand curve and struck a guard rail, at which time a generator was ejected from the bed of the truck into the roadway.

The pursuit lasted about 11 minutes and traveled about 11 miles.

Upon the vehicle crashing, Lugo Valle exited the driver’s side of the vehicle and Van Houtten told Lugo Valle to put his hands up, but Lugo Valle failed to follow instructions and ran into the woods.

As Lugo Valle exited the vehicle, he appeared unsure of his footing and as he looked at Van Houtten for a brief second, he appeared “out of it.” Van Houtten ran after him, into the wood and into a creek.

Van Houtten was able to grab Lugo Valle, and a struggle ensued where Lugo Valle made numerous attempts to break free from Van Houtten’s grasp. He escaped but Van Houtten used a Taser a short distance down the creek bank and he was taken into custody.

Other troopers arrived on scene about this time and Lugo Valle was assisted out of the creek by responding troopers and brought to an awaiting ambulance.

EMS transported Lugo Valle to St. Luke’s Carbon Campus where he was cleared of all injuries, and then transported to PSP Lehighton where he was processed and transported to the Carbon County Correctional Facility for arraignment.

Lugo Valle, 66, faces charges of fleeing or attempting to elude officer, evading arrest or detention on foot, resisting arrest/other law enforcement, disorderly conduct — engage in fighting, scatter rubbish upon landstream, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle or property, driving under influence of alcohol/controlled substance, general lighting requirements — no headlights, registration required, driving while operating privilege suspended or revoked, driving at safe speed, maximum speed limits — other locations, turning movements and required signals, and stop signs and yield signs — duties at stop signs.

Lugo Valle is incarcerated in the Carbon County Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000 bail, and scheduled to have a preliminary hearing Feb. 5 before District Judge William J. Kissner of Palmerton.