Prospect Park police arrest armed Philly man after vehicle and foot chase

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An 18-year-old Philadelphia man has been charged with fleeing police and being in possession of a stolen handgun.

DeShaun Martin of the 2300 block of South 29th Street was taken into custody in Prospect Park early Saturday.

According to the criminal complaint filed by borough Officer Samuel Willis:

Police were alerted at 12:43 a.m. that Springfield police had attempted to stop a vehicle traveling southbound on Route 420 at Baltimore Pike with a stolen Pennsylvania registration, which was taken from the 100 block of Forest Road on Oct 28, and was again spotted Saturday.

The dark sedan had blacked out lights and fled from police.

Willis, located at Route 420 and 13th Avenue in Prospect Park, observed the black Infiniti Q50 sedan going by at a high rate of speed.

The officer pulled out and activated his warning lights and siren and attempted to catch up to the vehicle to initiate a traffic stop. However, it continued south towards Tinicum.

Near Fourth Avenue, the car struck a sedan, causing minor damage and continued straight on 420 over Interstate 95 and into Tinicum.

Multiple officers from assisting jurisdictions responded to sweep the area in an attempt to locate the vehicle, which was found at the dead end in the 300 block of Warwick Avenue in Tinicum.

Assisting officers spotted a male running from the area across the train tracks and into a wooded area near Wanamaker and Fourth avenues.

Martin was then taken into custody at that scene. In the path from the vehicle police found a key fob for the Infiniti.

Police also located a stolen Smith and Wesson .40-caliber handgun within arm's reach of Martin, who does not possess a valid concealed carry permit.

Following his arrest, the defendant was allowed to make a phone call at police headquarters. During that call he admitted he was driving the vehicle and fleeing from police, the criminal complaint states.

Prospect Park Police Chief Dave Madonna praised officers, and noted civilians may not be able to fathom what it's like to run through darkened streets chasing a suspect, not knowing if he is armed or what they are capable of.

"The community is fortunate this did not end in disaster," Madonna said. "Between the car driving at high rates of speed, the defendant leading cops on a foot pursuit through nearby neighborhoods, and the fact that he was carrying a firearm meant that this could have ended badly. Had it not been for our officers and the many officers from surrounding areas who flooded the scene we may be telling a different story.

"This is exactly what bravery looks like, and I thank all officers involved," Madonna said.