MARION HEIGHTS, Pa. –– Two men were arrested after leading six police vehicles on a high-speed chase spanning 26 miles across central Pennsylvania while driving a vehicle that held dozens of sheep and goats.

More than 70 charges including 31 counts of animal cruelty and 10 counts of aggravated assault have been filed against Jarrett Lee Castleonia, 36, and Peter Rory Birster, 26.

Both men were arraigned and are jailed at Snyder County Priso, Castleonia on $150,000 bail and Birster on $100,000 bail. 

According to the arrest reports, a resident of Marion Heights contacted police about a vehicle parked on the block with a livestock trailer attached to it. The resident suspected that the two men inside, Castleonia and Birster, were intoxicated after one urinated in the street.

Brian Hollenbush, Mount Carmel Township Police Chief, responded to the call. Before he reached the location of the truck, Hollenbush saw it traveling the other way. He made a u-turn and followed the truck, which he observed almost side-sweep a tractor trailer. Hollenbush said he then tried to pull the truck over, and when Castleonia, the reported driver, would not stop, the chase began.

The truck blew through stop signs and red lights, and reached speeds as high as 75 mph as two police vehicles chased it. Castleonia continued to drive erratically and dangerously, pushing other vehicles off the road and swerving side to side. The truck was undeterred even by the spike strips state police Officer James Nestico deployed, and drove straight over them. 

Six police vehicles, 10 officers in total, followed behind as the truck turned into a farm field. Castleonia, jammed the brakes, put the vehicle into reverse and nearly struck Hollenbush’s police vehicle before again driving off. He made it to a wooded area and jumped out, taking the chase from four wheels to two feet.

Birster stayed put, according to Hollenbush. He was taken into custody at gunpoint as officers yanked him from the vehicle.

Officers chased Castleonia into the bed of a creek. He was struck with a Taser by a state trooper, handcuffed and taken into custody.

Inside the trailer were 25 goats and six sheep. Through all of the jostling in the trailer as the suspects made a dangerous, failed attempt to flee, four goats died.

Police learned the truck is owned by Castleonia. The vehicle had an illegal license plate, was uninsured and unregistered, and Castleonia’s driver’s license was suspended.

The full list of charges against both Castleonia and Birster: 10 felony counts, aggravated assault; 10 felony counts, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault; two felony counts, agricultural crop destruction; two felony counts, agricultural vandalism; one felony count, fleeing police; 11 misdemeanor counts, recklessly endangering another person; one misdemeanor count, resisting arrest; two misdemeanor counts, criminal mischief; 31 misdemeanor counts, cruelty to animals.

Castleonia also is charged with summary violations: driving with a suspended license, reckless driving, careless driving, red traffic signal, three stop signs, overtaking vehicle on right, driving on right side of the road, registration required, insurance required.

Preliminary hearings before Mount Carmel District Judge Richard Cashman are scheduled for June 21.

Scicchitano writes for the Sanbury, Pennsylvania Daily Item.