Pair's relationship questioned
Woman was reported as missing
Police are still trying to figure out why a Clarks Summit woman reported missing by family members jumped from a wanted man's car Wednesday before he led police on a high-speed chase on Interstate 81.
Authorities want to know how Kathlyn McMasters, 22, ended up in the car with Nicholas Mears, a man wanted by the state Board of Probation and Parole, and what exactly their relationship was.
The Lackawanna County district attorney's office, state police and Dunmore and Clarks Summit police are investigating.
"She did know Mr. Mears. What exactly their relationship was, we don't know at this point," said Trooper Connie Devens, spokeswoman for state police at Dunmore.
Mr. Mears was arrested on nine charges, including two counts of aggravated assault and one count of recklessly endangering another person.
He could face more.
"Our investigation is still open, and we may be filing charges on him also," said Clarks Summit Police Chief Joe Laguzzi, referring to his department.
The investigation began when Clarks Summit police issued a news release Wednesday afternoon that Ms. McMasters was missing and could be in danger. Her family reported her Facebook account had been deactivated, her cellphone number had changed and she was in the company of Mr. Mears.
County detectives spotted Mr. Mears and Ms. McMasters driving in a 2003 Jaguar on Quincy Avenue in Scranton and attempted to pull the vehicle over, but Mr. Mears sped away, police said. After losing sight of the car, detectives spotted Ms. McMasters at North Irving Avenue and East Gibson Street. The woman told police she jumped from the vehicle when Mr. Mears told her he would not be caught.
Dunmore borough and state police officers joined in the chase in which Mr. Mears sideswiped an oncoming vehicle, following him onto Interstate 81 southbound where he reached speeds of 90 mph.
State troopers forced Mr. Mears off the road just after the Davis Street exit, where he attempted to drive away again before striking a pickup truck and slid off the road.
Mr. Mears was arrested and searched, although no drugs were found on him or in his vehicle, said Trooper Devens.
Now police are trying to figure out Ms. McMasters' connection to Mr. Mears and working to piece together what happened in the days before the incident.
Mr. Mears was arraigned Wednesday and is slated for a preliminary hearing Jan. 23. He was sent to Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail.
The Jaguar has been impounded at Dunmore state police barracks, according to county Detective Chris Kolcharno.
Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter