Yousef A. Adhami not only put police and the public in danger when he led police on a two-state chase Jan 7, he also set back the cause of Palestinians looking to make a life in the United States by claiming that he had explosives and was willing to use them, a local judge said.

“It was an insult to every law-abiding Palestinian in this country,” Mercer County Common Pleas Court Judge Francis J. Fornelli said Monday.

But, America is a generous and forgiving country, and its people are willing to give Adhami a chance to prove his worth, Fornelli said, adding that he was willing to give Adhami that chance.

Fornelli sentenced Adhami to time served, 2 years’ probation and a $500 fine on charges of fleeing police and terroristic threats. The judge also permitted Adhami to immediately move to California so Adhami can be with his ailing mother.

“I thank you so much, sir,” said Adhami, who pleaded guilty in June.

Adhami, who turns 39 today, of Youngstown, formerly of Farrell, was clocked doing 69 in a 35 mph zone at 10:45 a.m. on state Route 304, Hubbard Township, Pennsylvania State Police said.

The patrolmen pursued Adhami’s car, but Adhami refused to stop and entered Shenango Township on state Route 318. Southwest Mercer County Regional police picked up the pursuit, which ended when Adhami drove his car into a corn field off Mercer-West Middlesex Road, between Lebanon Church and Greenfield roads, in Lackawannock Township, state police said.

When Adhami got out of the car, he warned police to get back, said he had explosives and would use them against police, police said.

State and Southwest police negotiated with Adhami while West Middlesex volunteer firefighters closed a one-mile stretch of the road, police said.

Adhami was arrested after about two hours. A policeman was able to get close enough to spray him with pepper spray.

Members of the Allegheny County Police Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit searched the car, but found no explosives.

At his preliminary hearing he said he was addicted to crack cocaine and “whatever they gave me” at the time of his arrest.

Fornelli said drugs derailed the life of a man who is hard-working and driven, but that ambition may have led him to drugs.

Adhami was working and had three years in toward a civil engineering degree when he was arrested.