Two men were arrested after they allegedly struck several police vehicles and threw out crack cocaine from their car during a wild chase in Philadelphia Tuesday night.
The ordeal began shortly before 9 p.m. when 15th District narcotics officers approached a 51-year-old man and a 30-year-old man inside a 2003 Mercury Grand Marquis on Cottman and Torresdale avenues. Both men were suspects in a drug transaction, according to investigators.
As police announced they were making an arrest, the 51-year-old man allegedly put the car in reverse, struck an unattended parked car and then tried to run over a narcotics officer. The officer jumped out of the way and narrowly avoided being struck by the vehicle, police said.
The Marquis went into a nearby playground and continued to travel erratically until a right front tire blew out, police said. As police officers continued to pursue, the men began throwing crack cocaine out of the vehicle, officials said.
The Marquis finally pulled over on the 7600 block of Torresdale Avenue and the men appeared to be turning themselves in, police said. The officers approached the vehicle as the driver and passenger door opened up. Suddenly, the 51-year-old drove off again at a high speed, struck two marked police vehicles and the chase continued, investigators said.
During the pursuit, the Marquis struck another police vehicle. At this point the front tire was completely blown out and the 51-year-old stopped the vehicle on the 7900 block of Torresdale Avenue, police said. Both men then got out of the car and ran through a vacant lot, according to investigators.
Police officers chased after them on foot and finally apprehended the two men, officials said. Investigators said the men were in possession of pills and crack cocaine, which police later confiscated.
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Both men are in custody and charged with possession of narcotics. The 51-year-old man is also charged with eluding police and aggravated assault.
The 51-year-old man suffered a minor cut to the head and was treated at Aria Torresdale Hospital. The 30-year-old man was not injured. Police also say no officers were hurt during the chase.
