Car chase injures cop; suspect held

A city cop eyes patrol car of Abington police officer who was injured in a crash involving a suspected bank robber. (ALEJANDRO A. ALVAREZ/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

Posted: August 12, 2012

A N ABINGTON Township police officer was hospitalized and an alleged bank robber was in custody Friday, after a car chase that began in Jenkintown and "wound all over Philadelphia," police said.

Abington Deputy Police Chief John Livingood said that about 11:15 a.m. Aaron K.M. Thomas, 47, of West Philly, went into the PNC Bank on Old York Road near Township Line, tossed a plastic bag on the teller's counter, and said: "Fill it up." He left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash and drove southbound on Broad Street in a black Range Rover. Abington police pursued the vehicle as it zigzagged throughout the city.

When the Range Rover exited the Roosevelt Expressway at Fox Street, it purposely struck an Abington K-9 police vehicle, but neither the officer nor dog was hurt, Livingood said.

At 17th and Oxford Streets in North Philadelphia, the Range Rover ran a red light and was struck by a civilian's car. The Range Rover then collided with the pursuing police car and a light pole, injuring the officer, Livingood said.

The driver ran from his SUV with the bag of money in his hand, but officers caught him nearby.

The officer was being treated at Hahnemann University Hospital for minor injuries, Livingood said. No one else was hurt.

- Bonnie Cook, Inquirer staff writer