Radnor Police Arrest Philadelphia Man In Connection To Car Theft

RADNOR, PA —An 18-year-old Philadelphia man was arrested early Friday after attempting to evade police in a car and on foot, and later he was found to be in possession of a stolen vehicle, the Radnor Township Police Department (RTPD) said.

Najir Thompson, 18, has been charged with theft by unlawful taking, unauthorized use of motor vehicles, fleeing or attempting to elude police and related charges after he was found beneath heavy brush on a local farm. He was taken into custody without incident, police said.

According to the RTPD, just before midnight on Thursday, officers were dispatched to the area of Parkes Run Lane, Villanova, after receiving reports of a suspicious occupied vehicle.

A resident had reported seeing a vehicle drive up their driveway and then quickly leave, while a second vehicle appeared to be waiting at the end of the drive. The resident was not expecting company, the police said.

When officers arrived at the scene, they observed a black vehicle running in the middle of the roadway. As an officer approached the vehicle, the car accelerated and then did not stop when the police activated their emergency lights and siren, authorities said.

Later, while attempting to make a turn at Newtown Road and Darby Paoli Road, the fleeing vehicle collided with a fence. At which point, the car's operator —later identified as Thompson —exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot through Ardrossan Farms, 807 Newtown Rd., Villanova.

According to authorities, officers from the RTPD, and assisted by Newtown Township Police Department, Delaware County Police and Haverford Township Police Department, established a perimeter at the site.

Officers searched the farm, having to step around sleeping livestock, and eventually found the hiding suspect, according to reports.

Police said they later determined the vehicle Thompson had been driving was reported stolen from Oxford Lane in the Villanova section of the township. Several motor vehicle thefts have been reported in that neighborhood, authorities said, though they didn't indicate if there was any connection between previous thefts and the alleged incidents of last week.

The RTPD is asking anyone who has been a victim of a motor vehicle theft or has any information about the second vehicle reportedly spotted in the recent incident to contact the department at 610-688-0503 or to dial 9-1-1.

Residents also are encouraged to review their home security systems during the hours of 10 p.m. and midnight on Thursday night/Friday morning to see if they have additional footage of the suspect or suspects allegedly involved in the incident.