New York Man Who Led Troopers on High-Speed Chase With Fake EMT Lights Walks With Two Summary Offenses

Impersonating a public servant, possession of instrument of crime charges withdrawn; Joseph Neiger pleads to disorderly conduct and improper lights — equivalent of traffic tickets

STERLING TOWNSHIP, PA — A New York man who led Pennsylvania State Police on a high-speed chase while driving a black Jeep equipped with emergency strobe lights, a siren, and police radio — claiming he was an EMT despite having no credentials — walked out of Wayne County court Wednesday with two summary offenses after prosecutors withdrew the misdemeanor charges against him.

Joseph Neiger, 50, of Bloomingburg, New York, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and displaying improper lights. The charges of impersonating a public servant and possession of an instrument of crime — both first-degree misdemeanors carrying up to five years in prison — were withdrawn.

Four additional traffic citations were also withdrawn.

The resolution came just two days after the Wayne County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges had been filed, and less than 20 months after the March 2024 chase that sparked the investigation.

The Chase

According to the criminal complaint filed November 19, 2025, by Trooper Christopher Gaetano, the pursuit began around 3:15 p.m. on March 24, 2024, on Interstate 81 northbound in Avoca, Luzerne County.

Corporal Daniel Thompson was traveling in an unmarked state police vehicle when a black Jeep Cherokee approached from behind with red and white strobe lights activated. The Jeep passed the trooper’s vehicle on the right, using the right lane and partially traveling on the shoulder.

The vehicle was equipped with a light bar affixed to the grille and front windshield, an operational siren, and monitoring equipment for a police radio. The driver had the full emergency lighting package activated as he weaved through traffic.

The pursuit continued into Wayne County before troopers were able to stop the vehicle in Sterling Township.

“For EMT Purposes”

When questioned, Neiger told troopers the lights and siren were “for EMT purposes in New York.”

But when asked to provide credentials proving he was a certified emergency medical technician, Neiger admitted he had none.

He offered another explanation for the active emergency lights: the “wires” weren’t working, so the lights remained on.

Neiger also claimed that while he owned the Jeep, he “lends” it to other people — though he did not explain why he was the one driving it with emergency equipment blazing on an interstate highway.

Troopers seized all the emergency equipment from the vehicle and took Neiger into custody.

20 Months to File Charges

The chase occurred March 24, 2024. The criminal complaint wasn’t filed until November 19, 2025 — a gap of nearly 20 months.

The Wayne County District Attorney’s Office announced the charges on December 15, 2025. Neiger’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for December 17.

At that hearing, according to court records, the case was resolved:

Charges withdrawn:

Impersonating a public servant (M1)
Possession of instrument of crime with intent (M1)
Careless driving (S)
Follow too closely (S)
Disregard traffic lane (S)
Turning movements and required signals (S)

Charges moved and resolved by guilty plea:

Disorderly conduct — unreasonable noise (S): Guilty plea
Display improper lights (S): Guilty plea

Neiger had posted $5,000 unsecured bail following his arraignment.

A Pattern of Traffic Violations

Court records reveal Neiger has accumulated multiple traffic violations across northeastern Pennsylvania in recent years — several involving vehicle equipment issues.

Prior convictions:

September 2025 — Monroe County: Improper entering to intersection. Guilty at summary trial.
January 2025 — Luzerne County: Improper sunscreening (window tint). Guilty at summary trial.
May 2024 — Luzerne County: Improper wipers. Guilty plea. (Two months after the I-81 chase)
December 2022 — Luzerne County: Vehicle turning left. Guilty at summary trial.

The pattern shows a driver repeatedly cited for equipment and moving violations across the region — and now, a driver who equipped his personal vehicle with emergency lights and sirens, claimed EMT status he couldn’t prove, led troopers on a highway chase, and walked away with the equivalent of traffic tickets.

Questions Remain

The swift resolution raises questions about the strength of the original case.

If state police seized the emergency equipment, had the trooper’s firsthand account of the chase, and obtained Neiger’s own admission that the lights were his and that he had no EMT credentials — why did prosecutors withdraw the misdemeanor charges rather than take them to trial?

The 20-month gap between the March 2024 incident and the November 2025 filing is also unusual. Straightforward cases typically move faster. The delay suggests prosecutors may have struggled with the evidence or the legal theory from the start.

Under Pennsylvania law, proving impersonation of a public servant requires showing the defendant “falsely pretends to hold a position in the public service with purpose to induce another to submit to such pretended official authority.” If Neiger never actually attempted to pull anyone over or exercise authority — if he simply drove past a trooper with his lights on — the impersonation charge becomes harder to prove. Reckless, yes. Illegal equipment, certainly. But criminal impersonation?

Similarly, the possession of instrument of crime charge requires proving Neiger possessed the equipment “with intent to employ it criminally.” If his defense was that the equipment had some legitimate connection to EMT work — even past work, even in another state — the intent element becomes murky.

What the Law Says

Under Pennsylvania law, impersonating a public servant (18 Pa.C.S. § 4912) is a second-degree misdemeanor — upgraded to first-degree if the person exercises any function of a public servant. First-degree misdemeanors carry up to five years in prison.

Possession of an instrument of crime (18 Pa.C.S. § 907) is also a first-degree misdemeanor when the instrument is possessed with intent to employ it criminally. The charge contemplates that the emergency equipment itself — the lights, siren, and radio — constituted instruments intended for criminal use.

Pennsylvania also strictly regulates who may operate emergency vehicles with activated warning lights. Under 75 Pa.C.S. § 4571, only authorized emergency vehicles may display red or blue lights. Violating this provision is a summary offense.

Neiger pleaded guilty to that summary charge — and to disorderly conduct for the noise created by his siren.

The misdemeanor charges that could have resulted in years of incarceration were withdrawn.

CASE REFERENCE

Defendant: Joseph Neiger, 50
DOB: July 28, 1975
Residence: Bloomingburg, NY 12721
Physical Description: White male, gray/partially gray hair, green eyes

Case Information:

Docket: MJ-22301-CR-0000159-2025
OTN: W 1010985-3
Incident Date: March 24, 2024
Location: I-81 northbound, Avoca (Luzerne County) to Sterling Township (Wayne County)
Arresting Agency: Pennsylvania State Police
Complaint Filed: November 19, 2025
Preliminary Hearing: December 17, 2025
MDJ: Wayne County 22-3-01
Bail: $5,000 unsecured (posted)

Original Charges:

Impersonating a public servant (M1) — Withdrawn
Possession of instrument of crime with intent (M1) — Withdrawn
Disorderly conduct – unreasonable noise (S) — Moved to non-traffic, guilty plea
Careless driving (S) — Withdrawn
Follow too closely (S) — Withdrawn
Disregard traffic lane (S) — Withdrawn
Turning movements and required signals (S) — Withdrawn
Display improper lights (S) — Moved to traffic, guilty plea

Resolved Dockets:

MJ-22301-NT-0000356-2025: Disorderly conduct. Guilty plea December 17, 2025.
MJ-22301-TR-0001385-2025: Display improper lights. Guilty plea December 17, 2025.

Prior Traffic Convictions:

MJ-43302-TR-0002312-2025 (Monroe): Improper entering intersection. Guilty.
MJ-11101-TR-0001426-2024 (Luzerne): Improper sunscreening. Guilty.
MJ-11307-TR-0000792-2024 (Luzerne): Improper wipers. Guilty plea.
MJ-11102-TR-0001454-2022 (Luzerne): Vehicle turning left. Guilty.

Neiger has resolved all charges and is no longer facing prosecution in this matter.