Man hits police vehicle during chase in Greencastle

GREENCASTLE — A Chambersburg man faces several charges after a chase in which he hit a police vehicle Wednesday evening in Greencastle.

According to court documents, Gabriel E. Gomez, 33, failed to stop at several stop signs during a vehicle chase that ended with police arresting Gomez on foot.

Greencastle police said a Ford Explorer driven by Gomez rammed a police patrol vehicle near Jerome King Playground before the chase continued to Tyrone Street, where Gomez got out of the Explorer and fled on foot, according to the affidavit of probable cause. After chasing Gomez through several yards on foot, police took him into custody in a yard on Grant Street.

According to the affidavit, Greencastle police observed a burgundy-colored Ford Explorer, driven by Gomez, fail to stop at a stop sign at the intersection of North Allison and East Madison streets on June 12 at approximately 7:04 p.m.

Police then engaged the vehicle by pulling up behind and activating their emergency lights and serine after the Explorer again failed to stop at a sign located at North Allison and East Baltimore streets.

According to police, the Explorer accelerated on East Baltimore Street and turned right onto South Ridge Avenue and then made a left turn onto East Franklin Street, failing to stop at a stop sign. While continuing to elude police, the Explorer then failed to stop at the stop sign at Franklin Street and Orchard Circle, then made a left onto South Linden Avenue. The Explorer continued north on South Linden Avenue, failing to stop at signs posted at Baltimore and Madison streets, before turning on Grant Street.

Traveling west, the Explorer failed to stop at another stop sign before turning left on Washington Street and then right on Chambers Lane, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

Police said Gomez cut through a stone parking lot at the end of Chambers Lane and lost control of the Explorer in front of several pedestrians at Jerome King Playground.

According to the affidavit, Gomez then rammed his vehicle into the patrol officer's vehicle and fled east through the Industrial Pallet Corporation lot to Washington Street. The chase continued to Grant, North Linden and Tyrone streets, police said.

Gomez exited the vehicle in front of 328 Tyrone St., and ran south on foot through an alleyway and several back yards where children were at play, according to the affidavit. Gomez was taken into custody in a yard at 304 Grant St. by several officers, police said.

Gomez is charged with one felony count of fleeing and attempting to elude an officer, one count of recklessly endangering another person, eight counts of duties at a stop sign and one count of operating a vehicle on a suspended license.

Gomez was unable to post bail set at $30,000 and is currently being held at Franklin County Jail. His preliminary hearing has been scheduled for June 18 at 1 p.m. before Magisterial District Judge Todd R. Williams.