A Womelsdorf man was arrested Saturday after leading police on a brief chase, unsuccessfully attempting to escape officers by driving through a farm field.
Shelden Gentry, 27, of the first block of Main Street was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Tonya Butler in Reading Central Court on charges of fleeing a police officer, flight to avoid apprehension and nine summary vehicle violations.
He was placed in Berks County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
According to Womelsdorf police:
An officer spotted a motorcycle driven by Gentry in a fast-food restaurant parking lot on Route 422 in Womelsdorf about 4:10 p.m.
The officer noticed that the motorcycle had an old-model license plate that had been altered to resemble a newer model. When the officer checked the plate number, it came back with no record found.
The officer tried to pull over Gentry in the parking lot, but Gentry fled, cutting through the restaurant’s drive-thru lane against traffic.
Police gave chase, and Gentry’s motorcycle stalled near Mill Road. He got off the bike as police commanded, but started running and pushing the cycle.
He restarted the motorcycle, jumped back on and sped off on Mill Road toward Winding Way. He then doubled back, passing the pursuing police officer, across Route 422 and down Canal Road.
He turned into a farm field, but was boxed in by police when he reached a tree line and had no more room to ride.
He was taken into custody at gunpoint.
Officers discovered that Gentry had a suspended drivers license, did not have vehicle insurance, did not have the motorcycle inspected, had 12 summary scofflaw warrants and had an active warrant in Lebanon County for misdemeanor charges.