A New Jersey man has been charged with striking a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle and punching a trooper.
Around 3:10 p.m. Monday, a trooper in an unmarked patrol vehicle was traveling northbound along South Pine Street (Route 413) in Langhorne Borough when he spotted a black SUV make a left turn through a steady red light. The officer followed the vehicle and watched it make “aggressive left and right movements within the lane of travel.” He crossed the centerline in what appeared to be an attempt to pass stopped and slowed cars, state police said.
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The trooper activated his vehicle’s emergency lights and siren to stop the SUV.
After the SUV stopped, the driver shifted the SUV into reverse and struck the unmarked patrol car, causing damage. He then drive off and through the borough, the trooper alleged.
The trooper was able to catch up with the SUV and drew his firearm in an attempt to get the driver to exit the SUV in the area of East Winchester Avenue and North Bellevue Avenue, state police said.
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The man behind the wheel of the vehicle – identified as Stanley Philippe, 47, of Princeton, New Jersey – was reportedly smiling at the trooper while at gunpoint.
Philippe exited the SUV and left his vehicle in drive, causing it to roll forward and hit another stopped vehicle, state police said.
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The trooper on the scene reported that Philippe said to him: “give me your gun” and “let’s do this.”
State police said the trooper attempted to deescalate the situation.
Philippe returned to his vehicle several times while the trooper was attempting to detain him. At one point, the trooper was punched in the face, state police said.
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Philippe ended up fleeing on foot along North Bellevue Avenue and onto West Marshall Avenue where he attempted to enter a passing hatchback, state police said.
The trooper ended up tackling Philippe to the ground and the two men fought. Philippe “rolled onto his stomach and actively resisted arrest by holding his arms tightly to his body,” state police said.
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After some time, the trooper and a number of responding officers from local police departments were able to take Philippe into custody, state police said.
John Godzieba, Langhorne Borough’s police chief, said he was dispatched for a report of a man and an officer fighting. He arrived as the trooper was tussling with Philippe. He noted that numerous police departments, including Middletown Township, Lower Southampton, and Newtown Borough, responded to assist.
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State Rep. Frank Farry, who also serves as Langhorne-Middletown Fire Company chief, lives in the area of the incident and arrived home as the incident was underway. He said he went to assist the trooper who appeared to be attempting to detain the much-larger Philippe. The trooper directed Farry to secure Philippe’s vehicle so he couldn’t not drive off in it if he returned.
A state police investigator said the trooper who was punched suffered minor injuries on his forearm and neck.
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Philippe was arraigned Monday night by on-call District Judge Frank Peranteau on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, fleeing or attempting to elude police, possession of marijuana, and several traffic violations. He was remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $200,000.
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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