Police: Man flees from officers, leaves 3-year-old and gun in car
WEST PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Police are still searching for the man who they say fled after an attempted traffic stop, leaving behind in the car a 3-year-old child and a loaded gun.
Around 7:15 Wednesday night, police pulled over a black Chevy Impala at 62nd and Locust in West Philadelphia because the license plate was partially blocked.
That's when the driver of the car took off and led officers on a chase that ended in Upper Darby.
Along West Chester Pike, the driver abandoned the car and got out on foot.
Officers say the suspect ran behind a firehouse, scaled a 6 foot fence and was last seen heading toward a golf course.
Inside the car, police found a 3-year-old boy in the backseat alongside a yellow book bag. There was also a handgun with a loaded clip of 11 rounds - one in the chamber.
Fortunately the child was not harmed.
"You got a gun that's ready for war. Eleven rounds in it - ready to go - by some bum that runs and flees from police trying to stop him," said Supt. Michael Chitwood, Upper Darby Police.
Authorities later learned that the weapon was stolen.
On Thursday morning, the Chevy was parked outside the Upper Darby Police station - pending a tow back to Philadelphia where this investigation is centered now.
Police say the owner of the car is the child's mother and the suspect's girlfriend.
The suspect had allegedly been on his way to pick up his girlfriend from work.
Investigators took the woman in for questioning but say she has not been helpful in identifying the man who was behind the wheel.
"The person who did this - he knows who he is. The family knows who he is, girlfriend knows who he is. He needs to be responsible and do the right thing and take accountability for his actions," said Lt. Johnnie Walker, Philadelphia Police.
Police say they found evidence in the car that, along with DNA evidence, they believe will help determine the identity of the suspect.
The suspect remains at large and police continue to search for him.
