Atlantic City Man Leads Police on Wild Chase in Norristown

According to reports from the , shortly after 5 p.m. on Sunday, April 29, police were alerted to a blue Honda Civic with New Jersey plates driving recklessly into Norristown on Main Street.

Officers reportedly caught site of the car, later determined to be driven by Jayson Williams, 29, of Atlantic City, travelling west on the 600 block of West Main and began following him. They observed the Honda swerving back and forth across the yellow lines and watched as it sideswiped several parked cars in the 1000 block.

The pursuing officer activated his emergency lights and siren, but Williams refused to yield. The Honda reportedly sideswiped another car on West Main before turning onto Hamilton and sideswiping yet another car on its way to West Airy Street. The vehicle turned right onto West Airy, going the wrong way down the one-way street and snaked between several oncoming cars, striking yet another, this time occupied, car before turning North on Vaughn Alley.

Williams allegedly sped up to evade the pursuing officer, who eventually lost sight of the Honda. Residents on the street directed the officer to Haws Alley where the officer discovered another car allegedly struck by the blue Honda. The occupants of that vehicle were reportedly transported to where they were treated for minor injuries. 

The officer caught up with Williams when another patrol car reported spotting the blue Honda exiting Wright Alley onto West Airy, again driving in the wrong direction, and turning South onto Haws Ave. The Honda cut through the parking lot of and continued on to West Main, crossing three lanes of traffic before crashing into a wall at 610 West Main Street. Williams reversed in an attempt to continue his flight, but crashed into a police cruiser behind him.

Williams then reportedly exited the Honda and attempted to flee on foot. Officers tried to subdue Williams with Tazers, but he continued running through traffic on West Main until he collided with another police cruiser and was finally taken into custody, despite a brief struggle with the arresting officers.

Once in custody, police say they observed Williams to be obviously under the influence of alcohol and/or narcotics and a search of the Honda revealed evidence of an alcoholic beverage and what police believe was PCP. Williams allegedly told police he thought he was in New Jersey and admitted to smoking "wet" (cigarettes dipped in PCP and formaldehyde) prior to his encounter with police.

Williams is facing charges including simple assault, aggravated assault, evading police, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person, institutional vandalism, reckless driving and about eight other traffic related offenses. A background check revealed the Williams is also a registered sex offender wanted in New Jersey with several priors for aggravated assault and resisting arrest.

According to The Times Herald, Williams is currently being held at Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail.