Authorities say two people stole a New Jersey police car and led officers on a chase into Philadelphia where, after being stopped, one suspect then stole a Philadelphia cruiser.
Blake Bills, 24, and Shayna Sykes, 23, of Macungie, Pennsylvania near Allentown have been charged with DUI, aggravated assault, theft, fleeing and eluding police, reckless endangerment of a person, receiving stolen property, risking a catastrophe and resisting arrest after a police pursuit that began at 9:50 a.m. Tuesday in Camden. On a routine traffic top Camden Police Officer Sekou Reid-Bey, 49, was talking to the driver when Bills and Sykes jumped into Reid-Bey’s police cruiser, which was left running. Reid-Bey was struck with his own cruiser, and was left lying in the street with a fractured leg.
The couple took off eastbound on Admiral Wilson Boulevard, then turned onto Route 138 and Route 38 before making a U-turn and heading to the Ben Franklin Bridge into Philadelphia at speeds up to 100 mph. The driver crashed the police cruiser at 7th and Norris. While police were putting Bills in custody, Sykes escaped from the Camden cruiser and stole a Philadelphia police car. Another pursuit began, and Sykes hit several parked cars, and had to stop the car because it was leaking fluid and was too damaged to run properly. She tried to flee on foot, but she was taken into custody by Philadelphia police in the block of 1100 Hope Street. One of the police pursuit was terminated for safety reasons at one point.
Reckless Individuals …
“I’ve never heard of anyone stealing two police cars in the same incident.”
— Philadelphia Deputy Police Commissioner Richard Ross.
Sykes was charged in Philadelphia with driving under the influence, eluding and fleeing police, theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use, reckless endangerment of a person, two counts of aggravated assault and resisting arrest.
Bills was charged with driving under the influence, fleeing and eluding police, reckless endangerment of a person, receiving stolen property, risking a catastrophe and resisting arrest.
