Credit: Bristol Twp. Police
A lengthy and dangerous pursuit through in January has landed one man in jail.
Eric Mitchell, 35, of Bristol Township, was arrested Monday afternoon by Bristol Township detectives and charged with one felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, three misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, and 15 traffic-related summary offenses. He remains in the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $100,000 bail.
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Police attest that on January 15, they were attempting to apprehend Mitchell on previous retail theft charges around 2 p.m. while he was inside his parked vehicle at the curb on Mustang Street in the township’s Bloomsdale-Fleetwing neighborhood. As soon as police exited their vehicle, court documents state Mitchell took off on Mustang Street towards Liberator Street.
An affidavit of probable cause notes that Mitchell led police on a chase throughout the township, nearly causing numerous head-on collisions, accelerating into oncoming traffic, driving upwards of 30 m.p.h. beyond the posted speed limit, and even circling gas pumps at 30 m.p.h. at the Wawa on Bristol Pike, all while avoiding the capture of officers.
Due to safety concerns, police later called off the pursuit after a couple was almost struck head on by a constant accelerating Mitchell in a white Saturn coupe, according to court documents.
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A warrant was issued for Mitchell’s arrest and he was arraigned Monday by District Judge Joanne Kline on charges related to the pursuit and retail theft offenses dating back to January 12. As of Thursday morning, he remained in Bucks County prison unable to post bail.
A source told LevittownNow.com Mitchell is also a suspect in another police chase that started in Bristol Borough and ended after police lost the suspect in Philadelphia.
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Mitchell’s preliminary hearings are set for February 17 and 24, respectively.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
