Man sent to prison on gun charge after police chase in Upper Merion
NORRISTOWN >> A Philadelphia man is on his way to state prison on weapons and theft-related charges in connection with an Upper Merion incident during which he was apprehended after a police chase along several township roadways.
Rodney Moore Jr., 27, of the 200 block of East Albanus Street, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 4 to 8 years in a state correctional facility after he pleaded guilty to charges of person not to possess a firearm, receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking in connection with incidents that occurred in March 2019.
Judge Todd D. Eisenberg, who accepted a plea agreement in the case, said Moore is eligible for the state’s Quehanna Boot Camp, a military-style, motivational and disciplinary program located in Clearfield County. If state corrections officials determine Moore is a candidate for the boot camp program, Eisenberg said Moore should be sent there “as soon as possible.”
Moore will receive credit for the 29 months he spent in jail while awaiting court action on the charges, according to court papers.
The investigation began about 1 p.m. on March 15, 2019, when Upper Merion police attempted to stop the operator of a pickup truck, later determined to be Moore, for an alleged Uturn violation at the intersection of Route 202 and North Gulph Road, according to court papers. Moore allegedly failed to stop as police activated emergency lights and sirens and entered Route 422 westbound, then Route 23 and then First Avenue in the township.
In the 1000 block of First Avenue, the vehicle struck a curb and witnesses reported the drive got out of the vehicle.
“Both witnesses saw the male throw something about 30 yards into a group of bushes. When they went to see what the male threw they observed a handgun, silver in color with a wood handle laying in the bushes,” Upper Merion Detective Robert Smull alleged in the arrest affidavit. “The gun was loaded and cocked while laying in the bushes.”
Police alleged Moore then got back into the pickup truck and traveled along First Avenue and turned onto Allendale Road where the pickup truck struck another vehicle from behind and did not stop and also traveled into oncoming traffic lanes to get away. Moore eventually traveled onto Elliott Drive and Thomas Drive, heading into a dead end.
“The vehicle proceeded into the open field which is Walker Park. At this point the vehicle did strike a guide wire for a support pole and a set of bleachers for the softball field,” Smull alleged, adding at that point Moore was taken into custody without further incident.
During the pursuit of the vehicle, police alleged Moore traveled through four steady red traffic signals and a stop sign.
“The defendant did drive in a reckless manner with several other vehicles and pedestrians in his path. The defendant had no regard for anyone else’s safety during this period,” Smull alleged.
The investigation determined that Moore had a previous conviction that prohibited from possessing a firearm, according to court documents. The investigation also determined that Moore did not have permission from the owner of the pickup truck to be operating the vehicle.
Additionally, it was determined that earlier on March 15 Moore entered the Neiman Marcus store in Upper Merion and stole a designer jacket valued at $990, according to the arrest affidavit.
Other charges of firearms not to be carried without a license, recklessly endangering other persons, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, criminal mischief and a numerous summary traffic violations were dismissed against Moore as part of the plea agreement.