Cops: Man faces 7th DUI in past 10 years
A Berks County man was arrested on his 7th DUI after driving the wrong way on the Media Bypass in the area of State Road, according to Upper Providence Police Chief David Montella. John Paul Martinka III, 41, of Bechtelsville, who also goes by “Johnny” and “Jonny,” is charged with two felony counts of driving under the influence as a fourth or subsequent offense and DUI with blood alcohol level above 0.16 percent, as well as a misdemeanor for reckless endangerment and several summary offenses including driving with a suspended license.
Montella said Police Offi
cer Scott Ely was on patrol about 9:30 p.m. on the northbound side of the bypass when he saw headlights from a vehicle travelling southbound in the northbound lanes of travel.
“My guy just enters onto U.S. 1 northbound from the State Road entrance and he sees headlights coming right at him in heavy traffic,” said Montella.
Ely immediately activated his emergency lights and siren, placing his vehicle in a diagonal position across the highway to protect motorists from the oncoming vehicle, Montella said.
The Ford F-250 driven by Martinka stopped abruptly for a couple of seconds in front of Ely’s cruiser, according to Montella, then drove around the police vehicle, striking it in the process. Martinka allegedly continued southbound in the northbound lanes and exited on the State Road ramp into oncoming traffic. He was boxed in and stopped on the ramp by Ely coming from behind, and Officer Patrick Reynolds and Corporal Larry Baker from the front, who were responding to assist Ely.
Martinka was clearly intoxicated when he exited the truck, according to Montella. He was placed under arrest, but refused to submit to chemical testing. Montella said arrest documents indicate that this is Martinka’s 7th DUI arrest in the past 10 years.
“The ironic thing is the guy said he thought he was supposed to be heading to work,” said Montella. “He thought he was in a completely different county. I don’t know if he got off 476 or where he thought he was. He clearly was going the wrong way and was completely unaware of his surroundings.”
Martinka was arraigned Wednesday morning before Magisterial District Judge Andrew Goldberg, who set bail at $100,000 cash, according to online court records. Martinka was remanded to the county prison in Concord after failing to post bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Judge Goldberg Feb. 25.
No officers were injured in the incident and the Pennsylvania State Police were called to investigate the damage to the police cruiser.
Montella praised Ely for his immediate and heroic actions, which he said likely averted a potentially tragic accident on the heavily travelled road.
A detainer for Martinka was also issued by Chester County Probation and Parole for a prior DUI as a result of Tuesday’s arrest, according to Montella.
Court records indicate Martinka pleaded guilty in Chester County to DUI and reckless endangerment in January 2016 for an April 2014 arrest. He was sentenced to 14 days to six months in prison, two years of probation, and had to pay a $1,000 fine with costs and surrender his license in that case.
The case record indicates there were several delinquencies with payments resulting in probation violation hearings. Martinka was last served with a hearing notice in January, according to the record.
Martinka was also arrested Jan. 22 in Berks County for a Nov. 30 2019 drunk driving offense, according to online court records. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bail Jan. 22 and is scheduled for arraignment Feb. 20 in that case.