Norristown Man Arrested for Trying to Run Down Police Officer

According to a report from the , police arrested Antonio Vasquez-Romero, of the 100 block of West Elm Street, after he attempted to run down an officer who had ordered him to get out of his vehicle.

Police were on a routine patrol in the area of Elm and Astor streets on Monday at approximately 4:49 p.m. when an officer reportedly heard a loud screech from skidding car tires from the area of Oak and Astor streets. As the officer slowed his vehicle to investigate, a green 1996 Honda sedan appeared, driving northbound on Astor Street at a high rate of speed in the officer's direction.

As the car approached Elm Street, the driver reportedly hit the brakes and went into a controlled skid stopping just short of the front end of the police vehicle. The officer stopped, activated his lights and got out of his vehicle. The officer then reportedly stood approximately 10 feet in front of the Honda and yelled, "Stop! Police!" 

The driver and a front seat passenger, both described as Hispanic males, both reportedly saw the officer, but the drive, later identified as Vasquez-Romero, attempted to get around the police vehicle by accelerating right at the officer.

Believing he was about to be run down, the officer reportedly unholstered his service weapon and moved out of the path of the oncoming car as it ran the stop sign at Elm and Astor. He did not fire his weapon, but followed the Honda eastbound on Elm Street on foot. The officer reported the vehicle and suspect description along with the plate number and observed as the Honda ran a red light at Elm and Markley streets and turned to head south on Markley Street.

Additional officers joined the pursuit and eventually cornered the suspects in the rear of a business at 151 West Marshall Street where Vasquez-Romero had backed up to a fence to allegedly avoid detection.

Vasquez-Romero was taken into custody and observed to have blood-shot eyes and smell heavily of alcoholic beverage.

He is being charged with aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, driving under the influence, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless driving, driving without a license, failure to obey traffic control signals and failure to obey stop signs and yield signs.

He is currently being held at Montgomery County Correctional Facility on $30,000 bail.