Cops: Chase Reaches 160 MPH

Police are seeking a man after a Falls Township officer was struck by a vehicle early Sunday morning during a traffic stop, according to police.

The driver, who was identified as Shawn Wolfe, 39, of Trenton, fled the scene at at a Wawa on West Trenton Avenue and led police on a high-speed chase, police said.

Shawn Wolfe in a past photo. Credit: Falls Township police

At approximately 1:03 a.m., an officer on patrol observed a royal blue BMW 335 with a temporary New Jersey registration plate. The plate was registered to a Ford F-650, which led to the officer to call for additional units, police said.

The BMW reportedly had heavily tinted windows, including the front windshield.

After a short time, with no one exiting the convenience store to enter the car, the officer approached the vehicle to check the VIN, police said.

As the officer approached, the driver’s side window rolled down and there was a man in the driver’s seat. A second person was in the passenger seat. The driver was seen with marijuana on his stomach and a marijuana-stuffed cigar in his hand, according to the report, police said.

Police ordered the driver to exit the vehicle and told him that the registration plate was incorrect and that he was in possession of marijuana.

The driver refused to comply with multiple commands to exit the vehicle, police said.

The driver continued to refuse to exit. When he reached for the push-to-start button on the dashboard, the officer pulled out a Taser and again ordered him to exit, police said.

The driver then reportedly started the car.

The officer deployed the Taser, striking the man in the chest, police said.

In court papers, police said the Taser successfully stunned the driver, but he then put the vehicle in reverse and accelerated rapidly.

The car lunged backward, hitting the officer with the door and pushing him back. The officer was able to stay on his feet, police said.

The car then struck a police vehicle before fleeing the parking lot at a high rate of speed onto Route 13 south, police said.

Falls Township and a Lower Makefield police pursued the BMW.

File photo. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

The chase continued onto Route 1 north and into New Jersey, police said.

Authorities said speeds reached 160 mph before the pursuit was discontinued as it traveled into the Garden State.

Wolfe was later identified using police databases.

A warrant was issued on Monday for Wolfe on charges of aggravated assault, resisting arrest, driving at an unsafe speed, reckless endangerment, and multiple other offenses.

Anyone with information that can help police is asked to contact Officer Dean Stecklair at 215-302-3337 or d.stecklair@fallstwppd.com. Information can be provided anonymously at 215-949-9120 or tiplines@fallstwppd.com.

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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