Officer Fires at Suspects in Charging Car

According to The Times Herald, two people are in custody and facing a host of charges after they allegedly attempted to run down police who were attempting to question them about a "shots fired" call in the area.

Twenty seven-year-old Edward Oney III, of West Marshall Street and 23-year-old Jennifer Orzech, of Palmer Road in Conshohocken, were parked on the corner of Basin and DeKalb streets shortly after 3 a.m. on Monday morning, Oct. 20, when an officer approached them to question them about a "shots fired" call and several reckless driving calls they had received in the area.

When the officer approached, the driver, later identified as Oney, reportedly pulled into a parking lot on the 1300 block of DeKalb and then allegedly put the car in reverse, driving directly at the officer. The officer retreated to his squad car to avoid the oncoming vehicle.

Oney then reportedly put the car in drive and allegedly aimed it at a second officer who had arrived on the scene and then changed direction towards a third officer who arrived just after. 

Police repeatedly ordered the pair to stop and exit the vehicle, but the first officer reported seeing Oney allegedly reach towards the center consol of the car and reportedly fired a single shot at the vehicle. The bullet shattered the back window of the vehicle, but did not strike either occupants of the car.

"This was a very dangerous incident that needlessly risked the lives of not only police officers but the motoring public and it’s a clear indication of what happens to individuals who use drugs," Norristown Police Chief Russell Bono told the Herald.

Oney reportedly led authorities on a chase through West Norriton and Lower Providence, with those departments aiding in the pursuit, and the pair arrested when the vehicle stopped at Marshall and Cherry streets.

A search of the vehicle reportedly revealed drug paraphernalia, suspected cocaine, marijuana and an empty alcohol container. Oney reportedly admitted to smoking PCP and marijuana prior to the incident.

The pair both face drug-related charges and Oney faces additional charges including assault, DUI, reckless driving and recklessly endangering another person.

Read more about the incident here.