Traffic stop nets attempted homicide suspect
CHESTER » A city man wanted on attempted murder charges for three shootings in June and July was arrested following a short pursuit Monday evening, according to a release from Deputy Police Commissioner Steven Gretsky.
“Patrol officers never know what they may encounter when making traffic stops,” said Gretsky in a release. “What was a simple turn-signal violation turned into the apprehension and removal of a dangerous fugitive from our community.”
Carl Durrel Thomas Jr., 31, is facing three counts of attempted murder, as well as aggravated and simple assault, reckless endangerment and related firearms charges.
Chester Officer Zachary Litvinenko was on patrol at about 6:31 p.m. when he saw a 2004 Ford Taurus fail to use its turn signal as it turned from Seventh Street onto Caldwell Street, according to the release.
The officer activated his lights and siren and attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the Taurus took off at a high rate of speed westbound on Caldwell, the release says.
Gretsky said the driver, later identified as Thomas, lost control of the vehicle and crashed at 8th and Hinkson streets. The suspect then fled north on foot on Hinkson Street, where Officer Andrew Pownall attempted to take him into custody.
Thomas allegedly started to fight with Pownall, but he and Litvineneko overpowered Thomas and took him into custody after a brief struggle, according to the release.
Gretsky said the first shooting Thomas was wanted for took place at 9 p.m. June 17 in the 1100 block of Madison Street. The victim was outside and was approached by Thomas on foot, Gretsky said. Thomas allegedly shot at the victim, who was not wounded and later identified Thomas as the shooter.
The second shooting took place a little more than a day later, at 12:30 a.m. June 19, in the same block. In that instance, the victim was parking his vehicle when a pickup truck reversed down Madison Street and stopped, according to Gretsky.
The victim told police the driver of the pickup truck, who he identified as Thomas, rolled down his window and discharged his firearm 4 or 5 times into the victim’s vehicle. The victim was struck in his hip and was treated at Crozer Chester Medical Center, said Gretsky. He has since been released.
The third shooting came on July 3 in the 1100 block of Melrose Avenue
at about 6:50 p.m. The victim told Detective Benjamin Thomas that he was sitting in his vehicle when Thomas pulled up in a black Chevrolet coupe and exited his vehicle. Thomas allegedly took a firearm from his waistband and fired at the victim numerous times. The victim was struck in the chest as he tried to drive away and drove himself to Crozer-Chester Medical Center, where he was treated for his injury and released. Thomas was identified by video surveillance in that shooting, Gretsky said.
Following Thomas’s arrest Monday, officers allegedly recovered a green box labeled Remington containing 36 rounds of .32 caliber ammunition, a police scanner and three cell phones.
Thomas was preliminarily arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Charles Nistico and remanded to the county prison in Concord after failing to post $2.2 million cash bail. He is represented by attorney Clinton Johnson, according to court records. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Aug. 25 before Magisterial District Judge Dawn Vann.