Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
A Philadelphia man has been arrested and charged with a number of felonies and misdemeanors after allegedly fleeing police officers.
Robert Matrisciano, 43, was brought into police custody last week after a lengthy pursuit which originated in Bensalem, went through the Levittown area and ended in New Jersey.
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According to court documents, the pursuit began after Matrisciano stole a white Toyota SUV from a residential driveway in Bensalem.
“Sorry,” he reportedly told a person nearby as he took off in the SUV.
Matrisciano sped up immediately after officers attempted to stop the Toyota. Matrisciano drove through a yard to avoid police apprehension at one point, according to court papers.
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Throughout the rest of the chase, Matrisciano blew through a red light in Falls Township, recklessly sped around other drivers and eventually crashed the vehicle across the Delaware River, police said.
After the crash, Matrisciano was transported to St. Mary’s Medical Center in Middletown. While at the hospital for treatment, he told officers that he was driving while on heroin and methamphetamine, the probable cause affidavit stated.
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After a search, a single syringe containing suspected heroin residue was found, police said.
Matrisciano is facing a number of charges including felonies relating to theft and fleeing law enforcement, misdemeanors relating to possession of drugs and paraphernalia and summary charges involving driving.
Matrisciano was sent to prison on 10 percent of $750,000.
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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.
