Acting Somerset County District Attorney Molly Metzgar announced Tuesday that an arrest has been made following a months-long investigation into a stolen truck in Somerset County.
Authorities say Neil Tressler was taken into custody last week at a motel in Frostburg, Maryland.
Officials say the investigation into Tressler began in late November as the Somerset County Drug Task Force, Boswell Borough Police and Conemaugh Township Police were attempting a traffic stop on a truck in Berlin Borough.
Police say the driver, believed to be Tressler, allegedly refused to stop and drove through the borough and onto Mason Dixon Highway at speeds exceeding 80 mph.
Investigators say the vehicle pursuit was ended at the Garrett Borough line.
Police say a couple weeks later, the suspect vehicle was observed at the Go Moore Store in Davidsville.
Authorities say while they were searching the vehicle, a store employee reported that his vehicle had been stolen and police say surveillance video identified the driver as Tressler.
Police noted that methamphetamine was found inside the truck that was left parked at the store.
Investigators say while they continued to search for Tressler, they received a report of another stolen truck from the Hollsopple area.
On January 12th, Tressler was located by U.S. Marshalls in Maryland, and the stolen vehicle from Hollsopple was reportedly parked outside his motel room.
Police say Tressler and another, unidentified individual who was in the room are being housed in the Alleghany County, MD detention center and are awaiting extradition.
Investigators say additional drugs, including more methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and fentanyl were seized during the arrest.
“I am incredibly proud of this coordinated multi-state, multi-jurisdictional mission to apprehend a wanted fugitive and bring him to justice. This coordinated effort between many law enforcement organizations to take down a major drug dealer is how it is supposed to work,”
