A Reading man stole an idling car Monday morning in the 600 block of Penn Street and led four police departments on a chase that ended with a crash in Womelsdorf, about 15 miles away, investigators said.
Richard D. Hernandez, 36, of the 900 block of Penn Street faces multiple felony charges including theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, and fleeing and attempting to elude police. He was committed to Berks County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail following arraignment Monday night before District Judge Kyley L. Scott in Reading Central Court.
According to court documents:
The owner of a 2006 Honda Civic parked in a side alley off Penn Street and left the vehicle running while he went into the adjacent store. Within seconds, he told police, a man jumped into the car and drove off.
The victim chased the vehicle westbound, briefly managing to open the driver’s door and attempt to pull out the suspect before Hernandez accelerated away. The victim then flagged down a Reading police officer.
A short time later, Wyomissing police reported over Berks County police radio that they were behind the stolen Honda, along with a Spring Township unit. The Wyomissing officer said he activated his emergency lights and sirens at Penn and Park avenues.
Sinking Spring police took over the pursuit as the Honda entered the borough. Two units followed the vehicle through South Heidelberg Township and Wernersville before ending their pursuit at Route 422 and Sportsman Road.
Sinking Spring Chief James Oxenreider, one of the pursuing officers, requested dispatchers notify Womelsdorf police that the stolen vehicle was headed their way.
Moments later, Womelsdorf police radioed that they were behind the Honda and that it had crashed. Womelsdorf Police Chief John Pontician took Hernandez into custody and notified Reading police of the arrest.
Charges related to the pursuit were filed by Sinking Spring police. Troopers from the Jonestown station in Lebanon County responded to the crash scene and handled the crash investigation. Details of the crash were not immediately available.