Busted drug deal ends in wild car chase

New charges for 20 Philly men in violent criminal conspiracy probe
Joe Gratz/Flickr

Two men allegedly involved in a drug deal led police on a tense Mayfair car chase Tuesday night, striking several police cruisers.

Police said they interrupted a suspected drug deal taking place at Cottman and Torresdale avenues around 9 p.m. when the suspects noticed police and sped off, ABC reported, adding that they nearly hit an on-foot officer.

RELATED:Guards allegedly smuggled drugs into Philadelphia jailhouse

“The driver, in his desperation to get away, put the vehicle in reverse and crashed into a parked car, then put the vehicle in drive and attempted to run over a police officer who literally had to jump out of the way of this Grand Marquis not to be struck,” Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small said to ABC.

The suspects’ car smashed into two police cruisers at Bleigh Avenue and Edmund Street and came to a brief stop on Torresdale but sped off again, hitting one of the same squad cars a second time, Small said to Philly.com, which added that the Grand Marquis had popped a tire and was driving on a bare rim, throwing sparks.

After the suspects exited the vehicle, officers then had to chase the suspects on foot, ABC added.

The 51-year-old driver and his 30-year-old passenger were caught on foot, Small was quoted by Philly.com, which also stated that both men were in possession of pills and what appeared to be crack cocaine.

RELATED:Masked gunman shot dead during robbery: Police

Police plan to charge the suspects, Small said in the Philly.com article, adding that only the driver was injured.