Hatfield Township Police. Photo by James Short.
The suspect fled from police after it was revealed he had an active warrant out of Carbon County.
A Hatfield Police officer suffered a broken forearm this month while pursuing a suspect with an active warrant, who fled from police while being questioned about an incident at the Dairy Queen on Broad Street in Colmar, police said.
On May 14, at 9:25 a.m., officers responded to the Dairy Queen at 2620 N. Broad St. for a report of a man and woman sitting in a black Dodge pickup truck in the parking lot for several hours, according to the complaint.
Upon arrival, officers made contract with Megan Creveling and Joseph M. Vangoethem, 42, who identified himself as Chris Vangoethem, police allege in the complaint. Police said Creveling identified herself as Tammy Creveling as well.
According to police, Creveling had an active felony arrest warrant out of Carbon County.
When the couple were told that there were under investigation for Creveling’s suspected warrant and any false information given would be a crime, Creveling, police said, admitted her real name. Vangoethem walked off from the scene, police said.
Police then discovered Vangoethem also had an active felony warrant from Carbon County and that his real name was Joseph, not Chris, as he allegedly told officers.
Officers found Vangoethem behind 102 Bethlehem Pike, next to the Dairy Queen, and when they tried to talk to him, he refused to speak, police said. As the two officers approached him, Vangoethem fled on foot, police allege, running through private property and then onto the SEPTA railroad tracks.
Vangoethem, police said, refused to stop during the foot chase, and at one point, the officer fell on the tracks during an attempt to grab the suspect, fracturing his arm.
Vangoethem was apprehended in the parking lot of Century Kitchen at 106 Bethlehem Pike and admitted to police that his real name was Joseph, police said.
Vangoethem is charged with felony evading arrest on foot, and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, reckless endangerment, false identification to police, and defiant trespassing, according to court records. He is free on $5,077 unsecured bail, as Vangoethem has an active parole/probation detainer, per court records.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for July 9 at 10 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy.
The officer's condition is unknown at this time. North Penn Now has followed up with Hatfield Police for an update on the officer.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
