It all began late Friday morning when police were called to a home in the Wayne Woods section of Upper Merion.
A housekeeper reporting to work at 456 Woodhill found the homeowner dead. Sources say his throat had been slashed.
The victim has been identified as 68-year-old Richard Porter, a widower who lived alone with his dogs. He was the longtime owner of a painting business.
By midday, police had posted an alert for a gray Chevy Tahoe with a certain license plate, which sources are telling Action News belonged to the deceased.
At around 2:00 p.m., a pair of officers in Kensington stopped a gray Tahoe.
Police say as 24th district officer Christopher Brennan approached, the suspect tried to drive off, dragging Brennan along.
The Tahoe then crashed into a Ford truck at Kensington and Lehigh, ejecting both the officer and the 24-year-old driver.
The driver, identified as James Nicolai of Upper Merion, was arrested by responding officers. Authorities say Nicolai lives on the same street as Porter.
Officer Brennan was taken to Temple University Hospital for pain to his neck and back. He was released Friday night.
Nicolai was also taken to Temple Hospital.
Two women in the Ford truck were also injured the crash and taken to the hospital to be examined.
