An Allentown man accused of nearly striking a state trooper and others with his vehicle and leading police on a high-speed chase through several neighborhoods was convicted Friday of fleeing from police but acquitted of aggravated assault, District Attorney Gavin Holihan said.
Paris Bartlett, 50, was found guilty of a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police as well as several misdemeanor charges. A jury acquitted him of felony counts of aggravated assault. He faces 9 to 18 years in state prison when sentenced June 29.
According to police, Allentown officers and Pennsylvania State Police were conducting a joint investigation in the area of South Third and West Union streets on June 16, 2023, when they attempted to stop Bartlett’s car as part of a drug investigation.
Bartlett stopped, but then reversed his car, struck an undercover police vehicle, and then sped forward, nearly hitting a state trooper, police said. The trooper fired his handgun, hitting Bartlett’s windshield. Bartlett was not injured, and the shooting was ruled justified.
Police said Bartlett then sped though the city of Allentown, nearly struck two pedestrians crossing Third Street, and then drove the wrong way over the Hamilton Street bridge. He drove through several stop signs and several East Side neighborhoods, striking a vehicle, injuring at least one person and also striking a state police vehicle before finally being stopped in the 500 block of South Carlisle Street.
After his arrest, police said they found cocaine, fentanyl and synthetic marijuana in his car.