Police: Suspect in wild chase drove 65 mph, blew through stop signs, red lights
By Manuel Gamiz Jr., Of The Morning Call, 8:37 pm, April 28, 2014, The Morning Call
The drug suspect who injured three Allentown police officers as his car barreled through center city Friday reached speeds of up to 65 mph and ran through stop signs and red lights during a pursuit that began when officers approached him on foot, according to arrest records.
The dramatic chase began about 2:30 p.m. at Seventh and Allen streets when David A. Estes, 36, of Allentown fled from police, triggering a pursuit during which police allege Estes' car hit a bicycle cop and collided with a police cruiser, injuring two officers. A third officer was injured when his cruiser crashed during the chase.
In Whitehall Township, Estes drove up to 65 mph down residential streets before heading back into Allentown with officers following at a distance, the court records say. Police said they saw him drive through 10 stop signs and four red lights in Allentown and Whitehall.
Estes is facing a number of charges related to the pursuit and crashes, including attempted homicide. He is also facing drug and weapons charges related to search warrants served after the crash. Danielle Jean Neff, 25, of Allentown, a passenger in the car, also faces the drug and weapons charges.
A couple of the crashes happened along Linden Street right in front of the Pennsylvania Society political gala outside Miller Symphony Hall dubbed "The Miracle that is Allentown," recognizing new economic development downtown.
About 500 people, including Gov. Tom Corbett and other state and city politicians, attended the event, which was held under a huge white tent in the public parking lot next to Symphony Hall. Mayor Ed Pawlowski touted the city's advances, including its decrease in crime. Corbett had left before the crashes occurred.
The three Allentown police officers injured in the pursuit have all been treated and released from the hospital, police said Monday.
Bicycle officer Scott Magill suffered the most serious injury when Estes backed into his bicycle, mangling it and sending him flying, according to court records. Magill appeared to have suffered a leg injury.
Estes' car also collided with a patrol car occupied by officer Ryan Murray, according to court records. Another police officer was hurt when his cruiser hit a utility pole during the chase, police said.
According to a criminal complaint:
The chase began after Allentown police tried to stop Estes at 2:31 p.m. Friday at Seventh and Allen streets. Officers approached the stopped car on foot, but Estes accelerated, fleeing north on Silk Street, eventually driving into Whitehall.
In Whitehall, Estes reached speeds of up to 65 mph down residential streets before heading back into Allentown with officers following at a distance as he ignored stop signs and red lights in the city and township.
In the area of Fifth and Liberty streets, police saw Estes toss several bundles of alleged heroin out the window. The drugs were never recovered.
Estes headed down the 500 block of Linden Street at 2:40 p.m., passing Sgt. Edward Zucal, who was on foot. Estes was stopped at Sixth and Linden streets by heavy traffic, and Zucal walked to his car to take him into custody, but Estes drove in reverse, nearly hitting Zucal.
As Estes continued in reverse, he hit Magill on the bike and then the patrol car occupied by Murray. Estes continued south on Law Street, where pedestrians had to move out of the way to avoid being hit.
Estes crashed through a metal construction fence and a parked car and continued west on Hamilton Street, then north on Sixth Street. A pursuing police officer was injured when his cruiser crashed as he rounded the corner at Linden and Law streets, hitting a utility pole about 100 feet from the tent at Symphony Hall.
Estes was stopped in the 300 block of North Sixth Street, got out of his car and ran away. He was taken into custody at Sixth and Gordon streets after a struggle.
After the chase, police searched the car and found 14 grams of methamphetamine, packaging material and two cellphones. Later Friday, police searched a home shared by Estes and Neff, finding a stolen .357-caliber handgun and more drug paraphernalia, including a digital scale.
Besides attempted homicide, Estes is charged with four counts each of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment and one count each of accidents involving death or personal injury, fleeing or attempting to elude police, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, resisting arrest, reckless driving and driving with a suspended license.
In two other criminal complaints, Estes and Neff were charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
They were both arraigned by District Judge Daniel Trexler and sent to Lehigh County Jail, Estes under $650,000 bail and Neff under $125,000 bail.