Police Nab Driver Of Stolen Vehicle After Chase In Hatboro

HATBORO, PA — A 24-year-old Washington, D.C., man is in custody following a police pursuit in which drones were used to capture the suspect in a neighboring community, court records state.

Devon Vincent Harris, 24, of Washington, D.C., faces a felony charge of receiving stolen property in the incident that took place on Sunday, a criminal complaint from District Justice Todd Stephens states.

He is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 19.

According to the criminal complaint, Harris led police on a chase after running a red light through the downtown business district, where it later crashed into a parked vehicle in a driveway.

The pursuit also involved the Upper Moreland Police Department, a K9 unit, and a drone search, the complaint states.

Hatboro Police Sgt. Brett M. Paul was on patrol in the area of 50 North York Road on Sunday when he was alerted to a stolen Maryland vehicle coming from East County Line Road, the complaint states.

As Paul neared the black Acura sedan, the police officer said the car increased its speed and proceeded through a steady red traffic signal at South York Road and Byberry Avenue, the complaint states.

Paul said he ended the pursuit near South York Road and Crooked Billet Road due to safety concerns as Harris headed southbound on South York Road.

A short time later, another officer located the Acura on Newington Drive, just off South York Road, where it had crashed into a parked vehicle in a driveway. Both the driver’s and passenger’s doors were found open, the criminal complaint states.

Paul said he requested assistance from Upper Moreland Police officers and a K-9 unit to assist with a search for the driver, He also deployed a drone to assist in the search, utilizing the drone's thermal imaging camera.

Paul said the Horsham Police Department assumed control of the drone and was able to relocate the suspect and maintain aerial observation before Upper Moreland Police officers apprehended Harris.