Manhunt Takes Police Through W. Norriton, Norristown
Multiple police departments involved
Photos
Updated story here:
Fugitive May Be Suspect Responsible for Injured Philly Police Officer
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Update, Wednesday 12:38 a.m. Norristown Police said the suspect remains at large. We'll attempt to learn more later this morning.
Update 11:54 p.m. A Norristown police officer involved in the manhunt confirmed that they are continuing to search for a suspect, but declined to say where police are focusing right now.
Update 11:39 p.m. WPVI-TV is now reporting that Norristown Police have been notified regarding the identity of a suspect who allegedly struck a Philadelphia police officer with his Ford F-150 truck earlier this evening and left his license and registration in the possession of that officer. Philadelphia police told WPVI that they believe the unidentified man will be in custody soon.
We have no official confirmation that the manhunt, which has since moved inside Norristown borough, is connected with the Philadelphia incident.
Update 11:25 p.m. A Montgomery County Department of Public Safety representative confirmed that a suspect remains at large.
Initial story below.
Police from West Norriton, Lower Providence, and Norristown were involved Tuesday night in a manhunt for an unidentified suspect in the Jeffersonville section of West Norriton, according to numerous reports on Montgomery County's public safety radio channels.
Reader reports and police radio transmissions indicated that the search was being concentrated in the general vicinity of N. Whitehall Road and W. Marshall Street. Readers on Norristown Patch's Facebook page reported seeing a helicopter in the area, though it was not immediately clear whether the helicopter belonged to the police or a media outlet.
Patch has thus far been unable to confirm other readers' reports that the individual was being sought in connection with the alleged hit-and-run of a Philadelphia police officer earlier Tuesday night.
WPVI-TV reported that the vehicle in that incident, which was recovered 10 blocks from the scene, was registered to a Norristown address.
We'll have updates on this developing story as more information becomes available.
Russ Krause
10:48 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
It's definitely a police chopper...very powerful spotlight.
Judy Dowdalls
10:53 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Its Tuesday night.
RZRO
11:11 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
My wife and I were sitting out back and noticed the helicopter flying overhead. It's a police helicopter with a very bright spotlight. Hope they catch the bastards! Thanks for keeping us informed!
James Myers
12:01 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
As of right now, the manhunt is still going on. I'm staked out at the police station waiting for news or some sign of where the hunt is located now.
AP
12:40 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I hope they catch that scum bag soon! We don't need people like that in our town.
Concerned Neighbor
8:42 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
It would have been nice when the police officer stopped near my driveway because he saw me out with my dog to say what was happening. The neighborhood involved should not be sitting in fear wondering why the police helicopter is hovering overhead with a spotlight on their home and the police officers are driving up and down their roads shining spot lights on their properties. A little information goes a long way! Once again WN - thanks for the heads up!
Anonymous
9:02 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
As another concerned neighbor, I completely agree. I was also out to inquire and received no explanation as well. If we had information on the likes of who they are looking for, we could assist as a neighborhood watch. It would also help us as residents to know if there are any extra precautions that we should be taking until this is resolved. Left with an uneasy feeling!
Christine R
12:46 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
how do they know who you are? they are not going to volunteer information to anyone for your and their own safety. also they feel that if you see the helicopter and police presence that you'll have enough common sense to think it's serious and to get inside immediately.
Aric
2:06 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Absolutely, Christine R. Cops out and about, helicopter overhead.... Get inside and let them do their job.
Weezee
2:44 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
And be the 2nd phone call to the police non-emergent line (Aric will be the first) to ask why is there a police helicopter with a spot light and police officers driving around with spot lights? Aric, you keep saying have common sence to get inside and let the police do there jobs and yet you openly admitted to calling to inquire. So what side of the fence will you be on with this comment?
There are notification practices in place to send out information, there was no phone call with a recorded message, there was no notification through Ready PA, there wasn't even a ma'am or sir walking your dog on site notification. So, tell me, where is the line drawn? The line would have been drawn real fast had I not arrived safely inside my home by using my God given common sence. And yet, as a tax paying resident I deserved to receive information pertaining directly to my safe being.
Aric
9:43 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
My reply seems to have vanished, so once again, after locking the doors and watching the helicopter literally overhead for an hour I called to see what's up. WNT doesn't have a helicopter, in case you weren't aware, so at that point I checked every news source I could find and then (very apologetically) called the non-emergency/business number for WNT police. I agree that perhaps this sort of thing should be folded into the montco.alertpa.org site, but given the budget cuts I don't see that happening. Perhaps you would like to spearhead the movement to make it happen at the next Township meeting? Me, I gave 2 weeks of my time to auditing the WNT 2012 budget when they proposed the aforementioned cuts to the Police Department. Your turn.
Aric
9:45 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Also, I'd be much more concerned about Montco not letting residents know about a transformer blowing up at the Limerick nuclear power plant, which resulted in an unplanned shutdown of Unit 1, than I would be about WNT not letting folks know about a guy who supposedly ran over a cop in Onley. YMMV.
Mohandus Frieri
7:21 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012
All of these commenters need to be put in jail for 25-50 years in order to solve the problem.
We'll have to cut back in other areas in order to pay for it.