Credit: U.S. Marshal Service
A Middletown Township man has been handed an 11- to 22-year state prison sentence for multiple drug and gun violations.
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John Sousa Palaio Jr., 51, was found guilty of a total of 19 charges, including illegal possession of firearms, possession of a firearm with a removed serial number, selling or repairing offensive weapons, possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, eluding or attempting to elude the police, possession of a crime-related tool, criminal use of a communication device, and criminal mischief, during a waiver trial in May.
Bucks County Court of Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller sentenced Palaio last Friday, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office said in a press release.
Among the charges against him, ones related to him firing at a police drone during an attempted arrest last year.
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Middletown Township police had initially sought to execute an arrest warrant at Palaio’s residence in the Parkland section of the township on July 6, 2022 for drug and weapon-related charges. They received information indicating that Palaio was at his home, and they used a police drone to confirm his presence on the property.
During the drone operation, one of the officers heard gunshots that were targeting the drone, leading to a loss of connection. The officer later retrieved the damaged drone, authorities said.
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Shortly afterward, Palaio was spotted fleeing on a motorcycle.
Officers pursued him with sirens blaring and lights flashing, but he refused to stop.
Palaio eventually returned in his home and hid in his garage. Concerned that he might get firearms, the police established a perimeter around the area.
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Law enforcement repeatedly instructed Palaio to exit the garage and informed him about the arrest warrant. However, he chose not to respond.
A short time later, officers observed Palaio fleeing on foot along the train tracks.
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A search was launched for Palaio, and he was eventually apprehended several days later at an apartment in the 500 block of Main Street in Tullytown Borough by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Following the issuance of a search warrant for the garage, the police discovered several pellet guns, brass knuckles, drug paraphernalia used for methamphetamine packaging and consumption, as well as a revolver found in a red toolbox, authorities said.
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An earlier investigation conducted in June 2022 at Palaio’s residence had led to the discovery of 200 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia within his garage, along with two firearms. One of the guns had its serial number removed, according to authorities.
Palaio had previously faced charges for evading the Middletown police in January 2022.
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Palaio’s son – Thomas Palaio, 20 – is presently awaiting sentencing in a child porn-related case.
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