Police say Bristol Borough’s Kyle Romanowski had a blood alcohol level of .19, which is more than double the driving limit of .08, and had cocaine in his system when he ran down two officers and lead police on a dangerous chase in August.
At his preliminary hearing Tuesday before Judge Joanne V. Kline, Prosecutor Christopher Rees and Romanowski’s attorney Steve Jones announced a plea agreement. Under the deal, a felony charge of aggravated assault was dropped if the 42-year-old agreed to plead guilty to fleeing police, accident involving personal injury, DUI and other charges. Romanowski will serve between 3 1/2 and 7 years in jail with up to 8 years on probation.
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Despite the request of Jones, Kline said she would not lower Romanowski’s 10 percent of $2 million bail because of his actions and the lives and property he put in jeopardy. Jones’ blamed Romanowski’s actions on him having a “bad night.”
Kline said Romanowski’s actions lead to a “bad night” for “our officers” and people whose property was damaged during the several-minute-long police chase.
According to police, Officer Thomas Phillips and Officer Michael Sarcewicz were called to the Fantasy Adult Book Store in the 800 block of Veterans Highway (Route 413) at 10:31 p.m in mid-August and found Romanowski “highly intoxicated” inside his blue Hyundai four-door car. Police told the 42-year-old he could call for a ride or be arrested for public intoxication. In court papers, police noted that Romanowski became uncooperative when he had trouble finding his cell phone, and additional patrol units were called.
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Officer Thomas Polistina arrived as backup and pulled behind the Romanowski’s vehicle.
Romanowski was given verbal commands by police to exit his car but refused. Sarcewicz then attempted to remove Romanowski from his car; he resisted and became combative, police said.
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Two officers blocked the driver-side door as Romanowski tried to close it on them, all while holding the steering wheel, police said.
All three officers began fighting to control a combative Romanowski and he somehow started his car, according to court papers. Officer Phillips deployed his taser on Romanowski to no avail, police said.
At that point, Romanowski placed his car into reverse and “floored” it backwards, according to police accounts.
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Sarcewicz barely escaped the rapidly reversing car and Polistina was struck by the door and Phillips became trapped between the open driver-side door and the car, police said. Romanowski is alleged to have dragged the officer for about 10 feet before hitting a parked police cruiser.
The two injured officers were taken to Lower Bucks Hospital and suffered only minor injuries. It has been noted that the outcome could have been deadly for he officers.
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Romanowski reportedly took off on Veterans Highway and police called for all available officers to assist.
Township and Bristol Borough police chased Romanowski at high speeds in the wrong direction on Veterans Highway, where he struck a vehicle containing an adult and toddler at Otter Street. The pursuit then continued into Bristol Borough, where the suspect blew stop signs and traffic lights. According to witnesses, the vehicle lost its bumper and knocked over a sign at the Bristol Wharf.
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Bristol Township Lt. Terry Hughes said in August that Romanowski’s vehicle was on two tires at one point as the chase went through the borough. He added that pieces of the car were flying off and striking pursuing police vehicles.
The chase ended when Romanowski struck a passing car at the intersection of Route 13 and Green Lane in Bristol Township. Two civilians were involved in the crash, police said.
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Romanowski continued to fight with officers as they took him into custody, police said, adding that law enforcement came in contact with the 42-year-old’s blood.
After being taken into custody, police said they heard Romanowski muttering that he smoked cocaine and drank before the chase because he girlfriend cheated on him.
Just before Romanowski’s hearing, he was arraigned before Kline on 10 counts of access device fraud, theft and receiving stolen property.
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According to Bristol Borough police, he use the gas credit card given to him by his former employer on several occasions to exchange use of it for cash. The crime was alleged to have been committed about a week before the chase and cost his former employer – Spa, Hearth and Home of Bristol – close to $1,300, polcie said.
Romanoski’s family sat in court during Tuesday’s hearing. He will remain in prison unable to post bail.
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