Crime & Safety
Man Shot, Killed By Philly Police After Hitting Cop With Vehicle
The man reached into his jacket after officers told him to show his hands. An officer then fired one round, striking him in the head.
PHILADELPHIA – A man who allegedly struck Philadelphia Police Officer with a vehicle was shot and killed by police Wednesday, Dec. 27 following a traffic stop in the Germantown area of Philadelphia.
Police said Dennis Plowden, 25, of the 1600 block of East Walnut Lane, died from a gunshot wound to the head after he allegedly reached into his pocket despite officers' commands to show his hands.
The incident occurred Wednesday at about 8:38 p.m. at Opal Street and Nedro Avenue in Germantown and stemmed from a traffic stop.
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According to police, a plainclothes officer saw a 2013 white four-door Hyundai that was wanted in connection with a Dec. 21 homicide traveling northbound on Ogontz Avenue.
Police followed the vehicle after radioing for marked patrol car back up, but the Hyundai stopped at the 16th Street and Nedroa Avenue intersection, police said.
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When police exited their vehicles to approach the Hyundai, Plowden allegedly sped off heading west on Nedro, hitting the passenger side door of a patrol car and subsequently an officer, police said.
Officers pursued the Hyundai and found it stopped after it struck two parked vehicles on the 1900 block of Nedro Avenue.
Plowden got out of the vehicle and began to run away, according to police. Officers commanded him to stop, but he allegedly did not listen. Police said Plowden then reached his hand into a jacket pocket, which prompted an officer to fire one round at Plowden, striking him in the head.
A preliminary investigation shows Plowden was in a seated position on the sidewalk when he was shot, police said.
He was rushed to Einstein Medical Center and pronounced dead at 7:18 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, police said.
The officer who was struck was taken to Temple University Hospital for injuries to his right arm and hand, and was treated and released, police said.
A 27-year-old woman who was in the Hyundai was also taken to Einstein for treatment of bruises and abrasions suffered in the collisions, police said.
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