PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. — A 21-year-old man is facing attempted murder charges after allegedly using his SUV to ram a police officer multiple times outside a hotel in Montgomery County, NBC Philadelphia reported.
The suspect was taken into custody on Oct. 24 after a violent confrontation that left a Plymouth Township police officer seriously injured.
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Authorities say the incident began earlier that morning when the suspect fled from two attempted traffic stops in Springfield and Whitpain townships. Police had been alerted that the suspect was driving a white Mercedes G-Wagon and had allegedly made threats to blow up a Chester County police station. Officers were advised not to pursue due to his dangerous driving.
Around 12:39 p.m., a Plymouth Township officer located the suspect’s vehicle at the hotel and attempted a stop. Surveillance and witness video obtained by NBC10 shows the suspect reversing into the officer’s patrol vehicle multiple times before accelerating toward the officer, who had stepped out and drawn his weapon.
According to a criminal complaint, the officer fired at least five shots, striking the suspect with a grazing head wound. Despite this, the suspect allegedly drove over the officer, who had been wounded in the leg. After briefly driving away, he returned and struck the officer three more times as the officer called for help and applied a tourniquet to his own leg.
The suspect fled the scene in the damaged SUV. During the ensuing police pursuit, officials say he deliberately struck an unmarked police vehicle and then collided head-on with a marked patrol car, injuring another Plymouth Township sergeant. His vehicle was ultimately disabled, and officers arrested him at the scene.
The first officer suffered serious leg injuries and remains hospitalized after undergoing multiple surgeries. The second officer was also treated for injuries.
The suspect was transported to Abington Hospital for treatment of his graze wound before being booked into Montgomery County Correctional Facility, according to the report. He is charged with multiple offenses, including attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and related crimes.
During a court hearing on Oct. 18, prosecutors successfully argued to deny bail, citing both the violent assault and the suspect’s alleged threat to detonate explosives at a police station. At one point, police say he told them, “Put me in the car or I’ll kill you.”
