Intoxicated Driver Tried to Take Off During Traffic Stop: Police

A wanted Pennsylvania man was arrested after he allegedly tried to drive away from police during a traffic stop Saturday night.

Palmyra Police officers were keeping an eye on two possible large parties taking place in town last weekend when a grey Ford Mustang with NJ license plates drove past them shortly before midnight. Officers randomly checked—then double-checked—the vehicle’s registration, which came back as being linked to a Toyota, according to a report.

Police pulled the Mustang over on Garfield Avenue just off East Fourth Street. As the car came to a stop, the front-seat passenger got out and started to walk away, police said. The officers told the individual to return to the vehicle, but the passenger ran away.

As officers were awaiting backup, the driver was asked to retrieve documentation belonging to the vehicle, which he was allegedly unable to provide. The driver—later identified as Johnnie Engelhardt Jr., 21, of Chester, PA—then tried to start the car in an attempt to drive away, but was quickly stopped by officers and removed from the vehicle, according to the report.

Engelhardt was placed under arrest. During the investigation, officers observed, in plain view, a vial of suspected marijuana and loose marijuana without any packaging inside the vehicle, police said. Engelhardt was also asked to perform field sobriety tests, which police said he did not pass.

He was charged with eluding, resisting arrest, obstruction and possession of less than 50 grams of marijuana. Engelhardt was also issued 11 motor vehicle summonses, one for driving under the influence, and police also discovered he had two outstanding arrest warrants in Delran and Willingboro. He was placed in Burlington County Jail on $15,000 bail.

The Mustang was held in impound in order for Palmyra Police to apply for a search warrant.

A passenger who was in the rear of the vehicle was not charged and was released from the police station after a ride arrived to pick him up, police said.

Police have so far been unable to locate or identify the front-seat passenger.