A Delaware man is in Lancaster County Prison today after allegedly leading state police on a high-speed chase along Route 322 early Sunday morning that ended after a brief foot chase in Downingtown, Chester County.
Jonathan Cruz-Bernal, 18, of Wilmington, was charged with fleeing and eluding police, drunken driving, possession of marijuana, recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and numerous traffic violations, police said.
And, when state police discovered the car he was driving had been stolen, Cruz-Bernal was charged with receiving stolen property. He was committed to Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $250,000 cash bail.
The incident began about 4 a.m. Sunday when Trooper Garry P. Ford tried to stop Cruz-Bernal's vehicle for a traffic violation on Route 322 at Sharp Avenue in Clay Township.
Instead of stopping, police said, the suspect accelerated, reaching speeds of 105 mph as he traveled eastbound on Route 322 for approximately 30 miles.
The car chase ended about a half-hour later when troopers deployed spike strips, puncturing the vehicle's tires and blocking escape.
Cruz-Bernal and three passengers tried to escape on foot, police said, but were quickly captured.
State troopers said they were assisted by police from Ephrata, Akron, New Holland, Caln Township, West Brandywine, Brandywine and Downingtown police departments.
In a separate incident, a Kinzers man was arrested for suspected driving under the influence of an illegal narcotic on a bicycle after state police said he was observed lying on Amish Road in Salisbury Township on Wednesday night.
Johnny Oscar Price Jr., 36, was observed lying in the middle of Amish Road, near Hensel Road, around 9:30 p.m., state police said, and was almost run over by several motorists.
Cpl. Derek A. Koch said Price tried to ride his bicycle from the scene, but was under the influence to the extent that he was physically unable. Blood test results and appropriate charges are pending, Koch said.
Bernell Boley, 25, of Paes Road, New Holland, faces driving under the influence of intoxicants charges after Ephrata Police said they found him early Sunday morning inside his truck, which was crashed against a utility pole in the 700 block of East Main Street.
Boley was taken to Lancaster General Hospital with head and face injuries, police said. A hospital spokesman said he is in good condition today.
His truck apparently hit two mailboxes and a fence before crashing into the utility pole, police said.
Earl Douglas Walker, 53, New Providence, was arrested for suspected drunken driving after he was stopped for a traffic violation early Sunday morning on Main Street, Providence Township, state police said.
Earl Edmund Ericson, 42, Lititz, was arrested for suspected drunken driving after he was stopped early this morning on Route 272 at Church Road in East Cocalico Township, state police said.
Staff writer Janet Kelley can be reached at jkelley@LNPnews.com or 481-6026.
