Altoona man arrested after high-speed chase through town: ‘What’s your problem, man?’

ALTOONA, Pa. (WTAJ) — An Altoona man wanted after a high-speed chase through the city has been arrested and booked into the Blair County Jail.

Kyle Lasko, 33, was arrested just days after police reported he was wanted for a high-speed pursuit in disregard of public safety, including crashing into an SUV driven by a 69-year-old woman. He was wanted on several parole warrants.

Lasko was spotted in the city on Lexington Avenue around 3 p.m. on May 21. He was followed to the Wendy’s parking lot across from UPMC Altoona, according to the charges filed. When a police officer attempted to approach the red GMC truck he was driving, he allegedly looked in the rearview mirror before yelling, “What’s your problem, man?”

At that point, the officer said Lasko sped out of the parking lot and across the grass and then re-entered the parking lot. According to the criminal complaint, Lasko sped through the parking lot toward Rite Aid, narrowly missing a truck before taking the wrong turn on Chestnut Avene toward Juniata Gap Road.

During the chase, police said Lasko jumped the curb on Chestnut before crossing the median onto the correct side of the avenue. Lasko also collided head-on with a silver SUV, leaving the 69-year-old driver with minor injuries. According to the charges, Lasko ran several lights and stop signs in front of Norfolk Southern. Officers decided to end the pursuit for safety reasons for pedestrians and other motorists.

After informing backup that the chase was off, police received another call that the red GMC had crashed in the 1100 block of 8th Avenue. When police arrived, the GMC was 40 yards off the road, along a treeline, and a front tire was missing. It was noted in the charges that the GMC’s plate indicated a “dead tag” for a Nissan. Three bags of suspected heroin were also found on the floor of the truck.

Various police departments, including the Blair County Sheriff’s Office, shared on their Facebook pages that Lasko was wanted. Less than three days later, he was arraigned and booked into the Blair County Jail with bail set at $100,000.

Lasko faces a host of traffic violations, including felony fleeing, fleeing to avoid apprehension and receiving stolen property, as well as misdemeanor charges for crashing the SUV, placing reckless endangerment and evasion of arrest.