A Morrisville Borough man is in custody after allegedly stealing a dump truck Monday morning and leading police on a destructive path through Falls Township.
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Leon S. Johnson, 61, was preliminarily arraigned Monday afternoon on 24 charges, including theft, receiving stolen property, DUI, failure to stop and give aid, and damage to unattended vehicles and property.
Credit: Falls Township police
Falls Township police said they were dispatched to the area of Old Bristol Pike and Windsor Drive around 8:35 a.m. after multiple 9-1-1 callers reported an Esco Concrete dump truck, which was hauling a trailer, hitting poles and other items along the roadway.
According to police, the owner of Esco Concrete had started the truck and stepped inside to retrieve items when Johnson entered the vehicle and drove away.
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The owner told investigators he did not know Johnson and had not given him permission to operate the truck, police said.
An officer found the heavily damaged vehicle traveling south on Old Bristol Pike near Penn Valley Printing, police said.
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The truck was reportedly dragging a trash can when it was stopped.
The responding officer noted that Johnson’s pupils were pinpoint and his speech was rambling, according to law enforcement.
Police said they suspected Johnson was under the influence of a controlled substance and unable to safely operate the vehicle.
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During the incident, the truck struck a parked car and residential fencing at Windsor Drive. The path of destruction continued as the vehicle hit five PECO utility poles in the areas of Wheatsheaf Road and Beatty Drive, along with several trash cans and trees, police said.
“Johnson’s reckless driving put numerous members of the public at risk of serious injury,” police said in a statement.
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Falls Township Police Lt. Chris Clark said no injuries were reported.
Johnson was arraigned at noon before District Judge John Galloway. In addition to the theft and DUI charges, he faces counts of
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The man was remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility after failing to post 10 percent of $250,000 bail.
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.
