FREEPORT — A driver allegedly sped off and endangered paradegoers Saturday, Dec. 2, in Freeport rather than wait in parade traffic, the Southern Armstrong Regional Police Department said Monday, Dec. 4.

Zachary Stephen Zecca, 22, of South Buffalo Township, Armstrong County, is accused of leading police on a high-speed chase after driving recklessly through the grass and nearly striking those attending A Small Town Christmas near the parade route in Freeport.

Zecca was charged with misdemeanor counts of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, resisting arrest and recklessly endangering another person, and summary careless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, reckless driving and failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Zecca was arrested, following a struggle that led police to use a Taser, according to Chief Christopher Fabec.

“After more than 15 attempts/requests for the male driver to comply and place his hands behind his back, the male was Tased,” Fabec said in a Monday news release.

He was taken to the Armstrong County Jail in lieu of a $5,000 bond. His preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, in front of District Judge J. Gary DeComo.

In a news release posted Monday evening to the police department’s Facebook page, Fabec said he wanted to “take the time to explain this incident.”

“As the vehicle exited the borough, at no point was the crowd attending in any danger, that is why we did not issue a warning at that point,” he said. “We also received calls from citizens who witnessed different parts of the above. I wanted to make sure that everyone has the entire incident rather than just bits and pieces.”

In the news release, Fabec said the police department became aware of a driver, later identified as Zecca, traveling at a high rate of speed in a blue Ford sedan near the parade route at about 5:20 p.m. Saturday.

An officer positioned to control traffic at the intersection of High and 6th streets heard what sounded like a vehicle accelerating and then saw the blue sedan traveling at a high rate of speed while sounding its horn, Fabec said.

Around the same time, Armstrong County 911 received a call about a blue sedan driving recklessly on Riverside Drive, cutting through the grass, driving around the gazebo and nearly striking people who were attending the parade, the news release said.

The officer unsuccessfully attempted to stop the vehicle, and the driver continued onto Route 128 at a high rate of speed, the news release said.

A high-speed pursuit followed until the vehicle came to a stop on a side street, about a mile onto Ford City Road, Fabec said.

After more than 15 attempts for the driver to comply and place his hands behind his back, police used a stun gun on the suspect, and he was taken into custody without further incident.

EMS was dispatched, following the police department’s policy for anyone who has been hit with a stun gun. The suspect suffered no injuries and denied EMS transport, Fabec said.