Police pursue Chambersburg man at gunpoint as he speeds through Walmart parking lot

CHAMBERSBURG -- A Chambersburg man is accused of speeding through the Walmart parking lot around 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 8, as police pursued him at gunpoint.

James Anthony Gonzales, 34, is held in Franklin County Jail on felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver and fleeing a police officer, court records show. Other charges include two counts of recklessly endangering, five drug charges and nine traffic violations. He was unable to post $75,000 bond.

Troopers from Pennsylvania State Police, Chambersburg, were going south in a marked patrol vehicle on Interstate 81 near Exit 17 when they noticed a car drifting from the center line and over the fog line, according to court documents. Police ran the registration on the car  and found that the owner, Gonzales, did not have a valid driver’s license.

Police followed the maroon Chevrolet Impala when it left I-81 to go east on Lincoln Way East, according to court documents. When police activated their flashing lights and siren, Gonzales accelerated and failed to yield.

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Troopers had Gonzales at gunpoint when he stopped while trying to enter a driveway to Walmart, 1730 Lincoln Way East, in Guilford Township, according to court documents. He refused police orders to stop his car and drove into the parking lot. Gonzales drove “at a high rate of speed through a heavily populated area with numerous pedestrians.” He left the parking lot and went west on Lincoln Way East.

Trooper Justin Brown used a PIT maneuver, and Gonzales lost control of his car, according to court records. It slid to a stop, facing east in the westbound lane.

The PIT maneuver (Pursuit Intervention Technique) is a tactic police use to abruptly turn a pursued vehicle sideways.

Brown held Gonzales at gunpoint, but Gonzales drove forward and struck the trooper’s vehicle, according to court documents. Gonzales continued to accelerate. After several commands from police, Gonzales put his car in park. Police noticed a strong odor of marijuana and alcohol when they took Gonzales into custody.

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Gonzales told police he had a small amount of marijuana hidden in his pants and more baggies in the car, according to court documents. Police searched his car and found three baggies containing suspected marijuana, a digital scale and a baggie of unknown white pills. Gonzales consented to have his blood drawn for testing.

Gonzales also faces charges of possession with intent to deliver from incidents on Jan. 13, 2017, and Jan. 26, 2017.

His preliminary hearings on the charges from the three incidents are set for Nov. 20 in Franklin County Central Court at the courthouse in Chambersburg.

Jim Hook,  717-262-4759

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