Crime & Safety
Norristown Man Charged In Police Shooting
Mark Simpkins Jr. was shot in the leg after exchanging gunfire with police who were attempting to arrest him on a fugitive warrant.
NORRISTOWN, PA —A 29-year-old Norristown man is in the Montgomery County Correctional Facilty near Eagleville without bail on charges of firing shots at police officers who were trying to arrest him on a warrant.
Mark Simpkins Jr. was arraigned Saturday night before District Judge Denise Ashe on changes of filing gunshot at police officers. A preliminary hearing is scheduled in June.
Police said they spotted Simpkins going into the A-Plus Store on Main Street at 6 a.m. Saturday.
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The were trying to arrest him on a warrant for several burglaries.
As Simpkins ran into a breezeway between two residents, he fired a gunshot at a police officer. Police returned fire, shooting the suspect in the left leg.
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Simpkins was taken to Paoli Hospital, where he was treated for a bullet wound to his left leg.
Police said they later confiscated multiple baggies of cocaine from the suspect's pockets and a black pistol magazine was found next to him. Police said they also found a 9 mm handgun, which has been reported as stolen during burglary on April 26 in Philadelphia.
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