Crime & Safety

UPDATE: Local Police Seek Philly Hit & Run Suspect

Authorities say the fugitive is still at large, but have still not released his identity. The suspect is wanted by Philadelphia police in connection with the Olney hit-and-run that sent a police officer to the hospital.

Update: West Norriton Police Chief Robert Adams has confirmed that the subject of last night's manhunt in West Norristown and Norristown was, in fact, the suspect in the Olney hit-and-run that sent a Philadelphia police officer to the hospital with a brocken ankle.

Chief Adams and Philadelphia police have confirmed that the suspect is still at large, but are not releasing his identity to the public. 

Norristown Patch will update this story as more information becomes available. 

Find out what's happening in Norristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

---

Earlier Story

Find out what's happening in Norristownwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Police from several area municipalities joined in a multi-departmental manhunt Tuesday night, July 17, that began in West Noriton and led authorities into Norristown in search of an unidentified suspect reportedly wanted by Philadelphia police.

As of 3 a.m. Wednesday, authorities had not confirmed the identity of the suspect or the nature of his crime, but a source confirmed what many area residents had already surmised – the man being sought by police was wanted in connection with a hit-and-run incident in the Olney section of Philadelphia earlier in the evening that sent a Philadelphia police officer to the hospital.

According to reports from CBS3 and 6ABC Action News, a Philadelphia police officer conducted a traffic stop on a 2011 black Ford F150 shortly before 8 p.m., and after taking the driver's license and registration, asked the suspect to step out of the vehicle.

"The individual started acting very suspiciously, making a lot of furtive moves inside the vehicle, so the officers, for their self-protection, asked the suspect to step out of the vehicle," Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told Action News.

The suspect reportedly refused and sped off, dragging the officer with him for at least a block.

The 26-year-old officer was reportedly taken to Einstein Medical Center for multiple injuries to his face, head and body and given a cast for a broken ankle.

Authorities found the suspect's vehicle in a nearby alley and recovered a gun from nearby, but it is unclear if the gun belonged to the suspect. 

Philadelphia authorities had the suspect's identification and notified police departments in our area, effecting the manhunt that began approximately an hour later in West Norriton near an address authorities had for the suspect.

Sources confirmed that police had an unidentified woman in custody who allegedly picked the suspect up in Philadelphia and transported him to West Norriton. West Norriton Police reportedly cornered the vehicle the two were traveling in in the area of Whitehall Road and West Marshall Street, but lost the suspect when he took off on foot. Norristown and Lower Providence Police soon joined West Norriton in the manhunt.

Residents of the sleepy neighborhood commented on Facebook about helicopters with searchlights, K-9 units and a small army of police officers canvassing the area in search of the fugitive.

Officers reportedly tracked the suspect to Evergreen Road where they lost his scent. Police were then reportedly able to track the supect's cell phone to an area near Hartranft Drive and Lincoln Terrace before his phone was turned off.

Authorities have not yet identified the suspect, but describe him as a 27-year-old male with a light complexion, 6’2” tall and weighing 170 lbs. The supsect is also reportedly covered in tattos on his chest, shoulders, arms and lower back. The suspect was last seen wearing a white tank top and dark-colored cargo shorts.

Norristown Patch will confirm details of the incident with local authorities and update the story as more information becomes available. Anyone with information about the suspect should contact the at 610-270-0977 or at 610-630-1701.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.