CHERRY RIDGE TWP, PA — Two men have been arrested in the wake of a vehicle and foot chase in Cherry Ridge Township. Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards said James Sullivan and Matt Delea were taken into custody on drug, weapons and related charges.

On August 4, state troopers spotted a car with a replaced red fender that matched the description of a vehicle wanted in connection with burglaries in the Hawley area. The trooper turned on his flashing lights and siren, but instead of stopping, the 1999 Chrysler sped up and attempted to flee.

The vehicle reached speeds of up to 90 miles per hour. Trooper Oakes attempted a maneuver to stop the car at the intersection of the Owego Turnpike and Wanoka Road, which forced the vehicle partially off the roadway causing it to stop.

Three people got out of the car and ran into a nearby wooded area. Three PSP troopers pursued Sullivan, 32, of Waymart, on foot and he was apprehended, but not before he kicked a trooper in the chest, according to Edwards.

Another passenger, Vanessa Ferrara, 24, of Scranton, was also apprehended. Troopers learned that the third passenger was Matt Delea.

Sullivan had a camera case in his pocket that contained 40 wax bags of heroin, approximately 10 grams of cocaine and prescription opiate pills. Sullivan and Ferrara were transported back to the Honesdale barracks, along with a backpack seized from inside the car. Multiple wax packets containing what police believed was heroin residue were found inside the backpack as well as suspected crack cocaine, smoking pipes and burglar’s tools including a black facemask, black gloves and a black headlamp.

Also in the backpack was a key for a Yamaha ATV. In the vehicle was a digital gram scale and packaging material. Police learned that Sullivan and Delea had been on their way to sell drugs that evening, and that the duo had broken into a garage and stolen a motorcycle and an ATV about two days before.

The location of the stolen vehicles was ascertained, and both were retrieved. On the morning of August 5, Matt Delea was located in the area nearby the scene of the car chase and was arrested. He had an active warrant for his arrest from the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department. The investigation into the drug dealing and possible other burglaries continues.

Sullivan was charged with 14 criminal counts, including possession with intent to sell and aggravated assault. Charges against Delea were pending.

Sullivan and Ferrara were arraigned by Magistrate Ron Edwards, and bail was set at $100,000 each.