A Lansdale man is facing nearly a dozen charges after he allegedly struck two vehicles while leading police on a chase through borough neighborhoods on Saturday night.
According to the criminal complaint, police observed a dark-colored Nissan SUV traveling westbound along the 500 block of West Main Street with no headlights during the evening of Jan. 25. Police followed the vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop near the intersection of West Third Street and North Cannon Avenue, but as police approached the vehicle it allegedly fled the scene at a high rate of speed, the report states.
Police engaged in a pursuit of the vehicle—which continued to drive without headlights—through the neighborhood, touching on West Third Street, North Towamencin Avenue, Mill Street, North Cannon Avenue and West Second Street, before the chase ended with the vehicle being parked along the 300 block of Madison Street, the report states.
Police made contact with the driver—identified as 27-year-old Nyjal Torres—as he was attempting to walk away from the vehicle, according to the complaint. The report states that as Torres was walking away, his vehicle began to roll backwards from the parking spot. Police then ordered Torres to put the vehicle into park, at which point he got back into the vehicle and closed the door, the report states.
As police opened the door and attempted to place the vehicle into park, Torres reportedly put the vehicle into drive, accelerated and struck a parked vehicle, police said. Torres then backed up the vehicle and nearly struck one of the responding officers, then accelerated and fled the scene with no headlights, according to the complaint.
The report states that while police were attempting to place the vehicle into park, they detected a strong odor of alcohol emanating from Torres.
Though police initially lost sight of the vehicle after it fled the scene of the crash on Madison Street, they quickly located it after it crashed into a parked vehicle along the 200 block of Line Street, the report states. Witnesses told police that the vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed on East Third Street, then failed to stop at the T-intersection with Line Street, the report states. By the time of police arrival, Torres had fled the scene, and both vehicles were on the lawn of the home with extensive damage, according to the complaint.
Police then went to the 400 block of East Main Street, to the residence of the vehicle’s registered owner.
The report states that the owner was unaware of the incidents, but stated that her boyfriend, Torres, was laying in bed. Police then positively identified Torres as the driver, and took him into custody, according to the report.
Police described Torres as having slow, lethargic movements, and smelling of alcohol. Torres refused to speak to police, and declined to provide a breath sample for the portable breath test, police said. A records check indicated that Torres had a suspended license, the report states.
As a result of the incident, Torres has been charged with one felony count of attempting to elude police, misdemeanor counts of DUI, recklessly endangering another person and escape, and summary counts of accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles, reckless driving, driving on a suspended license, driving without headlights, careless driving and failing to stop at a stop sign.
Torres was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Marc Alfarano, who set bail at $10,000 cash. Torres was then remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after failing to post bail, and his next court appearance is a preliminary hearing on Feb. 13 at 1:45 p.m. in front of Magisterial District Judge Ed Levine.
(Editor’s note: All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using court records and the affidavit of probable cause, and reflects the point of view of the police. Should the defendant choose to issue a public statement, or is later found not guilty or has the charges dropped, we will update this article accordingly.)
See also:
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Woman Charged Following Vulgar And Violent DUI Arrest In Montgomery Township
Man Arrested Following Scuffle With Police At Local Bar
