PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A prisoner who escaped a transport vehicle Tuesday afternoon on the way to Delaware County Jail is now back in custody after he also stole a car and crashed it.
Pennsylvania State Police say it was just after 2:30 p.m. that they were notified by police constables that a prisoner they were transporting to Delaware County Prison from the Media Courthouse escaped from their vehicle on Baltimore Pike near Stoney Bank Road in Chester Heights.
They say 27-year-old Jaliel Ali-Johnson fled from the constable’s vehicle towards Valleybrook Road, and then stole a car parked on nearby Highland Drive.
An officer from Upper Providence Township, who saw Ali-Johnson flee in the stolen vehicle, attempted a traffic stop, but was unsuccessful. Ali-Johnson then fled at a high rate of speed eastbound on Baltimore Pike.
Around 10 minutes later, police in nearby Nether Providence Township received an alert that Ali-Johnson was fleeing into their jurisdiction, pursued by State Police and Upper Providence Police.
Not long after, and almost 7 miles from where he started, officials say he crashed into a pickup truck on Baltimore Pike near Turner Road, and then fled into the heavily wooded Smedley Park, which is right next to I-76.
A shelter-in-place order was issued for nearby residents, and after 20 minutes of searching, Ali-Johnson was caught and handed over to State Police.
He was initially arrested Monday night and charged with loitering, prowling and drug violations after officers saw him peering into cars in Haverford. There was also evidence he had stolen from some cars earlier in the night.
State Police continue to investigate his escape.