Man Charged With Robbery After Stealing Tractor-Trailer & Fleeing Bucks County

A Connecticut man is accused of punching a Falls Township business owner and stealing a tractor-trailer.

Orane Anthony Bennett, 40, of Bridgeport, Connecticut, was charged with robbery of a motor vehicle, simple assault, theft, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, and harassment.

Ahead of a preliminary hearing last week in the case, Bennett waived the charges to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas for trial.

The call began at 11:14 a.m. Thursday, July 16, when Falls Township police were dispatched to ASM Truck Repair on South Pennsylvania Avenue in the township’s Morrisville section following a reported assault and vehicle theft.

A part-owner of the repair shop called 9-1-1 stating he had been struck by a former employee who then fled in a truck with the keys inside, according to court papers filed by police.

Police said the co-owner had summoned Bennett back to the shop after a delivery because the Red Volvo Tractor Trailer had near-bald tires and was not road-ready.

When Bennett arrived, the co-owner stood at the open passenger-side door and informed Bennett that his services were no longer needed.

An angry Bennett grabbed the co-owner’s shirt, pushed it into his face, and punched him while forcing him out of the cab. The co-owner fell backward, grabbing the vehicle to break his fall, before Bennett locked the doors, started the engine, and drove off the lot, police said.

The co-owner reported no injuries from the attack.

The co-owner followed the rig in a white Toyota RAV4 while relaying real-time updates to dispatchers, police said.

Responding officers tracked the fleeing vehicle onto Route 1 northbound.

Morrisville Borough police spotted the tractor-trailer crossing the bridge into Trenton, New Jersey, and asked dispatchers to alert Trenton authorities, police said.

Shortly after, a Morrisville Borough officer located the co-owner on the side of Route 29 in New Jersey.

While the co-owner was detailing the account to a Falls Township officer along Route 29, the Morrisville Borough officer spotted the tractor-trailer stopped at a nearby red light preparing to turn back onto Route 29, police said.

Officers activated emergency lights and sirens on the vehicles and caught up to the rig a short distance away.

Police said Bennett did not attempt to flee further, and he slowed down and pulled over past an underpass.

Because the vehicle had been taken by force, an officer drew his firearm and ordered Bennett out of the cab. Bennett was taken into custody without incident.

Falls Township police transferred custody of Bennett to the New Jersey State Police, and New Jersey authorities charged Bennett as a fugitive from justice , according to court papers.

Bennett was held him at the Mercer County Correction Center before being extradited to Bucks County custody.

Bennett posted a $10,000 bail and was released, according to court records.

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.