Driver Smashes Through Philly Police Station On Purpose, Injuring 5: Top Cop

RHAWNHURST, PA — Five people were injured after an SUV smashed through a police station Tuesday in Northeast Philadelphia. Police say the act was intentional.

Officers handled a disturbance involving a man — later identified as Dieufort Joly — and his father around 11:45 a.m. that morning, said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel.

Shortly after, Joly crashed his vehicle through the front entrance of Philadelphia's 2nd Police District building on 7306 Castor Ave. in the city's Rhawnhurst neighborhood, police said.

Bethel called the crash "a deliberate act."

Five people who were waiting inside the lobby for help were injured and brought to a nearby hospital, Bethel said. None of the victims were seriously injured.

Joly, 26, of Philadelphia, was taken into custody. He was charged Wednesday with five counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, and recklessly endangering another person, plus single counts of causing or risking catastrophe, institutional vandalism and possession of an instrument of crime.

His bail was set at $200,000, with 10 percent required for release, during an arraignment hearing on Wednesday.

A public defender represented Joly, according to court documents. The Defender Association of Philadelphia didn't immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.