Fugitive Tracked To Phoenixville Apartment, Arrested

PHOENIXVILLE, PA — A man wanted on drug charges who fled from police after a traffic stop in the borough last November was arrested in a Phoenixville apartment this week, authorities said.

Police received a tip Monday that Hakim Johnson, 38, was hiding inside the Independence Crossing Apartments, on the 800 block of Parkview Drive.

A woman, Tiffany Keys, answered the door, but when she saw the officers, she quickly shut it, police said. There was a "wave of marijuana smoke" that followed her closing the door.

Police left and got a search warrant and came back to the apartment at 5:59 p.m. They found Johnson hiding inside the apartment. Both Johnson and Keys were arrested.

Johnson, of Philadelphia, first came onto local police radar on Nov. 17 after a routine traffic stop on the 400 block of Anderson Avenue. Johnson was stopped for having an illegally tinted windshield, authorities said.

During that stop, a second driver, later identified as Keys, came up to police and began screaming that she was pregnant in order to distract officers.

Johnson took advantage of the situation and sped away, police said. Authorities later learned that Johnson had fled because he was wanted for intent to deliver narcotics. Now he also faces charges or fleeing police, reckless endangerment, and related counts. Keys was charged with possession and aiding and abetting a fugitive.

Preliminary hearings are forthcoming.

Images of Johnson and Keys via Phoenixville Police Department