CLARKS SUMMIT — A missing woman was found and a wanted felon was arrested after a police chase that started in Scranton and ended on the on-ramp to Moosic from Interstate 81 Wednesday afternoon.
Lackawanna County detectives Chris Kolcharno and Justin Leri were outside of Nicholas Mears’ 521 Clay Avenue home when they saw the man, who had a warrant out for his arrest, drive by in a Jaguar car with a missing Clarks Summit woman in the vehicle, Detective Kolcharno said.
The detectives attempted to pull the vehicle over, but after a few blocks Mr. Mears dropped missing Clarks Summit woman Kathlyn Marie McMasters out of the vehicle and sped away from police, Detective Kolcharno said.
County detectives picked up Ms. McMasters as state police at Dunmore and borough police pursued Mr. Mears up Drinker Street and onto Interstate 81 south, chasing him on the highway where it ended at on the on-ramp to Moosic, Det. Kolcharno said.
State police at Dunmore and Lackawanna County detectives both are expected to file charges against Mr. Mears, he said.
Ms. McMasters, 22, of 115 Woodside Drive, had been reported missing by her family, whom she last contacted Jan. 9, stating she was at 114 Willow St. in Dunmore, or at 827 Main St. in Dickson City, with a man named Nicholas Mears, police said.
Police determined Mr. Mears does not live at either location.
Since that contact with her family, her cellphone number has been changed and her Facebook account deactivated, police said.
“She had a friend communicating with her via Facebook, and one of the messages sent back from her Facebook said, ‘She is fine, don’t contact her,’ ” Clarks Summit police chief Joe Laguzzi said. “The same thing happened with her phone. Her dad was texting her and it just died out. He found the number was canceled.
“She has pretty much cut ties with everyone.”
Chief Laguzzi said police have received about two dozen tips during the day.
Over a 10-year span, Mr. Mears has been arrested for harassment, public drunkenness, retail theft, possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, receiving stolen property, theft by unlawful taking, criminal mischief, loitering and prowling and driving with a suspended license, according to court documents.
Anyone with additional information can contact police at 342-9111.