A Bensalem Township man was arrested after a short police chase that ended with a crash.
Christopher Edward Strassler, 41, was charged last Friday after a Thursday evening incident that started when a Pennsylvania State Police trooper on patrol on I-95 in Bristol Township spotted a vehicle with dark tints and driving erratically, almost causing a crash, according to court papers.
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The trooper wrote in court papers that he began following the 2011 Chevrolet Malibu but the vehicle increased in speed “significantly” as it approached the Bristol exit. At 6:23 p.m., the emergency lights on the patrol vehicle were activated.
The Malibu bypassed other cars and headed toward Veterans Highway (Route 413) at a high rate of speed but spun out about a minute later before hitting the concrete island near the intersection and a yield sign, state police said.
The trooper had Strassler exit the crashed vehicle, state police said.
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Strassler appeared drowsy and had slow speech, state police said.
In court papers, troopers noted Strassler admitted to recently using fentanyl, smoking crack in the vehicle, and having a state parole warrant out for him.
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A search of Strassler’s vehicle found a small piece of blue wax paper consistent with drug use stamped with “Tony Montana,” a small glass smoking pipe, and a ripped plastic bag often used for storing drugs, state police said.
Further investigation found that Strassler’s license was suspended at the time for DUI, troopers said.
Strassler was arraigned before on-call District Judge Frank Peranteau on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, possession of an instrument of crime, resisting arrest, and numerous traffic offenses. He was remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $40,000 bail.
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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.
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