Police: Stolen Car Suspect Crashes, Flees to School Before Being Arrested

February 19, 2025

A man is in custody after a stolen vehicle stop led to a pursuit, a crash, and a foot chase onto a local elementary school property, according to police.

At 2:45 a.m. last Tuesday, Middletown Township police officers patrolling near a Wawa on Oxford Valley Road spotted a gray 2022 Honda Accord with a Virginia license plate that had been reported stolen, authorities said.

After additional officers responded, police said they attempted a traffic stop on Trenton Road near the Middletown Athletic Association fields.

The vehicle fled at high speed police, and officers pursued with lights and sirens activated, authorities said.

The Honda then crashed into another vehicle in the area of the Middletown Trace Apartments along Trenton Road, police said.

The other driver was evaluated at the scene by medics for injuries, police said.

The man, who was later identified as Raekwon Bess-Reeves, 28, of Philadelphia, got out of the Honda and fled on foot to the nearby Herbert Hoover Elementary School property, police said.

The 28-year-old man was found hiding behind a tree in the recess area, police said.

Bess-Reeves was taken into custody without further incident, police said.

Officers discovered that Bess-Reeves was not licensed to drive, and the Honda he was driving was also reported as stolen,police said.

Bess-Reeves was preliminarily arraigned before District Judge Charles Jonas on charges of fleeing or attempting elude police, receiving stolen property, reckless endangerment, crash involving injury while not licensed, evading arrest or detention on foot, and related offenses. He was held on 10 percent of $350,000 bail.

Court records indicate Bess-Reeves has prior convictions related to stolen vehicles in Bensalem Township. He served jail time, underwent mental health treatment, and is currently on probation. He also has a history of law enforcement interactions in Philadelphia, according to court documents.

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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