Ridley, PA - Suspect just Released on Drug Charges Steals Marked SUV with Weapon Inside From the Police Station
January 27, 2010
Cindy Scharr / Delcotimes.com
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP – A joyride in township cop car has landed a Philadelphia man
in jail on a half-million dollars cash bail.
A barefooted James Bolton mumbled something inaudible as he was led from police
headquarters to be arraigned in district court shortly after noon on Wednesday.
“When I asked him why did he steal a police car, he seemed very distant and
unattached,” said Ridley Township Police Lt. Scott Willoughby, after the
arraignment. “He was staring into space, smiling and laughing and said ‘I don’t
know.’”
The 36-year-old Olney resident was originally picked up by township police
around 12:30 a.m. after a traffic stop. He was found to be in possession of a
small amount of marijuana, was cited for disorderly conduct and was placed in a
holding cell, police said.
Bolton’s car was towed and impounded at Verone’s Collision, in the 100 block of
Morton Avenue, a short walk from the police station, according to Police Capt.
Charles Howley.
Around 6:30 a.m., Bolton was released from custody and left police headquarters,
around the same time a township patrolman was returning to the station to fill
out a report, Howley said.
“We had one officer in the radio room finishing up a report, while the car was
out front with the keys in the visor,” said Howley/ Also in the SUV, a loaded
semi-automatic rifle.
Instead of getting his car out of the impound lot, Bolton saw the patrol
officer’s marked red sports utility vehicle and allegedly hopped inside.
Howley suspects Bolton hunted around in the car until he found the keys, left
there for an officer on the next shift to use.
When the patrolman, who was not named, walked outside, the red SUV was gone.
“I guess he didn’t want to take the bus,” said Upper Darby Police Superintendent
Mike Chitwood, whose officers apprehended Bolton about 20 minutes after he
allegedly stole the police vehicle from Ridley Township Police Department’s
parking lot.
Upper Darby Patrolman Stephen Tarozzi heard the flash about the stolen SUV on
police radio. Moments later, he spotted the police car at Baltimore and Church
Lanes, driving very slowly, Chitwood said.
Tarozzi, who was in a marked car, turned on his lights and siren and tried to
make a felony car stop at Church and Pennbrook. The Ridley red SUV pulled over,
but before Tarozzi reached the driver’s side, Bolton allegedly took off.
Tarozzi jumped into his patrol car and gave chase. With the assistance of
several other officers, Ridley’s red SUV was pulled over and stopped at Church
and Clover, Chitwood said.
“The guy gets out and is combative, so they Tazered him,” Chitwood said, adding
that he was grateful that no one was injured.
Bolton was taken into custody, handcuffed and turned over to Ridley Township
police officers.
“Within 25 minutes after it was taken, it was recovered,” said Howley, adding
that the vehicle was not damaged during the incident.
Bolton was transported back to Ridley Township Police Headquarters and later
arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Vincent Gallagher.
Bolton is charged with a number of offenses including aggravated assault on a
police officer, firearms not to be carried without a license, resisting arrest,
theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, unauthorized use of
automobiles and obstruction of administration of law enforcement functions.
Magisterial District Judge Vincent Gallagher set bail at $500,000 cash.
Willoughby said he intends to ask Gallagher to have Bolton undergo a psychiatric
evaluation during his preliminary hearing.