Pursuit left property damage; suspect detained
Upper Darby police arrested a Philadelphia man Wednesday, Feb. 5, after police say he led them on a chase in a stolen car.
Alonzo P. Ward Dario is charged with accepting stolen property, fleeing an officer, reckless endangerment as well as reckless driving and related traffic offenses.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Upper Darby Police Officer Mark Bianchi and Officer Jacob Daniels, the patrol officers were traveling South on 69th Street in the area of Chestnut Street at about 11:35 p.m. when they saw a black Mercedez Benz with a Tennessee license plate matching the description of a car stolen from a home invasion robbery in Philadelphia.
The officers followed the vehicle and called in the license plate number, confirming it had been stolen. The black car put on its right turn signal but turned left onto Market Street, then quickly made an illegal U-turn and tried to park at 6916 Market St.
Police said the driver, later identified as Ward Dario, ignored commands to turn off the car, and fled in the vehicle, driving on the sidewalk and crashing into a light fixture.
The collision disabled the car and knocked over the lamp post, which nearly struck another officer responding to the scene. police said.
Ward Dario then surrendered and was taken into custody, police said.
He is being held at the Delaware County Jail after failing to post bond. He was scheduled for a preliminary hearing Feb. 10, which was continued until March 10.
