A pregnant 21-year-old Reading woman was arrested after she led police on a high-speed chase, driving through stop signs, running red lights and nearly crashing into several police cars -- all because she had unpaid parking tickets, authorities said Tuesday.
Julissa Salome-Martinez of the 400 block of Chestnut Street was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail after arraignment before District Judge Wally Scott on charges of fleeing police, driving without a valid license and reckless driving.
According to investigators:
Officer Jared Abby was on patrol near Fifth and Oley streets Monday about 11:15 a.m. when he saw a car drive past, checked the registration and learned the license plate did not match the vehicle. He pulled over the car, but Salome-Martinez, who had two passengers, sped off.
Police chased the car throughout the city as it ran through stop signs, went through red lights and cut through parking lots. It nearly crashed into several police cars before officers were able to stop the car in the 200 block of Beech Street.
Several times police slowed down and called off the chase because of the risk to public safety as the car reached speeds of 40 to 50 mph.
When police finally stopped the car, Salome-Martinez and her boyfriend ran away but were captured a short time later. A woman who was sitting in the back seat did not run and told police what had happened.
Salome-Martinez admitted that she drove away because she had unpaid parking tickets.
She had two scofflaw warrants for her arrest and was committed to prison.
She told police she was pregnant. Police notified deputy sheriffs of her medical condition.
Copyright 2013 - Reading Eagle, Pa.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
