CHASE IN THE EAST END

A Berks County man faces serious charges after an early morning pursuit though the East End that resulted in damage to a patrol car, a civilian car, and a police bike. Kurt David Christman, 20, of Wyomissing, faces numerous felony charges after fleeing from a traffic stop.

At around 01:17, WCPD officers attempted to pull over a black Volkswagen that had run a red light at High and Market Streets. The vehicle, allegedly driven by Christman, was eventually pulled over by Ofc. John O'Hare at High and Linden Streets. According to the criminal complaint filed in District Cour t 15-1-04, Christman refued to provide his information to officers and attempted to drive off, striking a WCPD bicycle operated by Cpl. Pam Baumann after being commanded to stop. Christman allegedly drove off southbound on High Street before turning onto Rosedale Avenue, then leading WCPD officers on a chase through the East End neighborhood.

At East Union and South Walnut Streets, Christman allegedly struck a marked WCPD (which is believed to be the infamously cursed "1-25" slick top) driven by Ofc. Brendon McGeehan before turning westbound on Union and northbound back onto South High. Christman then struck a civilian auto at High and Miner Streets before fleeing northbound on High out of the borough. About a half-hour later, Chester County Police Radio issued a flash for the car.

Not too long after the flash was put out, West Goshen Police were dispatched for a report of a suspicious individual walking northbound on Pottstown Pike in the area of the Wawa on Green Hill Road; initial reports indicated the subject was wearing an orange shirt and reportedly attempted to flag down a West Whiteland police officer who appeared to be heading to or from Chester County Hospital with a DUI suspect, though that's not entirely certain. West Goshen Ofc. Wesley Holman made contact with the subject and after determining that the suspicious individual was possibly involved in WCPD's pursuit, Ofc. Holman transported the suspect to WCPD headquarters, where Christman was positively identified as the operator of the car in question and processed (WCPD #20070824M0008).

Christman was arraigned this morning in front of Judge Knapp on two counts of Aggravated Assault, four counts of Simple Assault (graded as felonies), one count of Escape, one count of Recklessly Endangering Another Person, two counts of Fleeing/Eluding Police, two counts of Accidents Involving Attended Motor Vehicles (hit-and-run in layman's terms), one count of Underage Drinking, and four separate motor vehicle code offenses. Christman's bail was set at $5,000 cash bail; it's unknown as of this time whether or not that bail was posted. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Friday morning in front of Judge Knapp (15-1-04, CR-0000286-07).

Christman also reportedly has a DUI case pending, though at this point, there's no case docket listed on the AOPC web site; I would suspect the case was filed in Berks County, so it's unknown how the West Chester case would affect the DUI case.