A driver fleeing police got into a head-on crash and his Acura ended up in nearby woods, according to authorities.
Just past 12:05 p.m. Saturday, a Falls Township officer spotted an Acura pulled over on Old Tyburn Road. He turned around to check on the vehicle after not spotting anyone. The officer noted the registration tag appeared to be altered to turn an “L” into a “U,” according to an affidavit of probable cause.
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As the officer was running the tag, he spotted a man – Francis C. Eluwa, 28, of Abington Townhip, Montgomery County – walking from a nearby towing yard wearing a mask and carrying a red reciprocating saw, and a bottle. Eluwa began moving quickly toward the Acura and fled in the Acura before the officer could exit his patrol vehicle, police said.
In court papers, an officer noted reciprocating saws are often used in catalytic converter thefts. The area has been seeing a rash of them.
The officer began pursuing Eluwa in the Acura through the area, passing numerous cars on Newbold Road. In the area of MY Lane, the officer spotted something smash on the ground, which appeared to be a bottle, police said.
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While on Lower Morrisville Road, Eluwa crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a silver SUV, police said.
“It did not appear the operator of the Acura slowed down or made any attempts to avoid a collision and struck the SUV head-on at a fast rate of speed,” Officer Ronald MacPherson wrote in court papers.
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Following the crash, MacPherson exited his patrol vehicle and drew his sidearm. He directed Eluwa to put his hands in the air, police said.
Eluwa, who was bleeding from his head, exited the crashed SUV without being told to do so, police said.
Eluwa went back to get something from the vehicle and he refused to comply, police said.
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At that point, Eluwa reportedly ran into the woods and K-9 Monty helped take down the defendent, police said.
An officer spotted Eluwa strike the police dog in the head, authorities said.
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Inside the Acura, an officer observed two burnt glass pipes that are commonly used to smoke crack, a lighter, an alcoholic beverage can was in the center cup holder, and a reciprocating saw blade was spotted near the pedals. A package for a three-pack of saw blades was on the floor, police said.
The driver of the SUV that Eluwa struck suffered a right leg injury, police said.
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Officers came to the opinion Eluwa was intoxicated during the chase.
According to court papers, Eluwa currently has his license suspended and was in a first-time offender program for a 2019 DUI in Lower Southampton Township.
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Eluwa was arraigned early Sunday morning before on-call District Judge Kevin Wagner on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, DUI, reckless endangerment, use/possession of drug paraphernalia, and several traffic offenses. His bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000.
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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