Exeter Township police arrested two 19-year-old Philadelphia men in a stolen SUV after a 4-mile chase on Route 422 in which spike strips were deployed to flatten the front tires of the fleeing vehicle.
Kamar F. Golden and Tahji Bruce bolted from the vehicle when it became disabled on eastbound Route 422 but were caught by Exeter Officer Joshua Wertz following a brief chase on foot, police said.
Both suspects were charged with receiving stolen property, marijuana possession and evading arrest or detention on foot.
Golden was additionally charged with reckless driving, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and summary traffic offenses. He was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail to await a hearing following arraignment before District Judge Michael D. Kaufman in Reading Central Court.
Bruce, who was the passenger, remained free on $25,000 bail.
According to court records:
Shortly before 4:30 a.m. Saturday, Wertz, who was operating a marked patrol vehicle, saw a 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee traveling westbound on Perkiomen Avenue, which is Route 422, approaching the intersection with Gibraltar Road.
He learned the vehicle had been reported stolen to Philadelphia police on April 4.
Wertz turned on his emergency lights and siren in an attempt to make a vehicle stop, but the Jeep fled and a vehicle pursuit ensued.
During the pursuit, the SUV traveled east in the westbound lanes of Route 422, went over the raised median and ran a red light, among other traffic violations.
After running over the spike strips, the vehicle became disabled at the South Baumstown Road intersection. Both occupants got out and ran but were quickly apprehended.
Golden was found in possession of a small amount of marijuana and a universal smart key/fob – a programmable fob that can be used to replace lost or broken fobs.