Police arrest suspect after dramatic chase
UPLAND » Crime doesn’t stop for a pandemic. That message came through loud and clear when a suspect, fleeing police in a reported stolen vehicle, led officers into a dramatic crash near nurses and members of the press by Crozer-Chester Medical Center Wednesday afternoon.
Chester Police Commissioner Otis Blair said the police had been called to make a report on a stolen car near 21st and Edgemont when an officer spotted that vehicle and attempted to pull it over.
“They were in the process of taking a stolen vehicle report and while taking the report, they observed the stolen vehicle in question occupied by a young man,” said Blair. “They attempted to initiate a vehicle stop, he refused to comply, and there was a short pursuit.”
The driver fled at a high rate of speed, heading west on Upland Avenue and racing past the entrance to the hospital, with police following with lights and sirens. Hospital nurses, in a “day of action” expressing concern about a shortage of protective masks, along with a group of reporters covering them, were all witnesses to what happened next. The Pontiac
sedan passed cars and veered into oncoming traffic at the top of the hill where it crashed into a Honda heading east.
The driver of the Pontiac quickly abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot back down Upland Avenue, with the Chester officer giving chase. As they ran passed Chester Rural Cemetery, the officer fired a taser. The suspect, holding his pants up as he ran, and the officer in pursuit continued onto West 15th Street, where the suspect was arrested in a front yard with the aid of two other Chester police officers.
The driver of the car that was struck was wearing his seatbelt. He appeared uninjured but was checked by medics.
“Crime doesn’t stop. Some people are just taking advantage of the situation and it just shows. Even through some people are under a stay-at-home order, there are some individuals still trying to take advantage of the situation,” said Blair. “Officers have to go out there and put their lives at risk.”