High speed police chase leads police through UDHS parking lot, grounds
After watching a vehicle careen into opposing lanes, cross solid double yellow lines, and drive directly toward oncoming traffic, Upper Darby Township Police were in pursuit of its driver.
On Wednesday, Nov. 5 around 9:17 p.m., police in an unmarked vehicle witnessed a dark-colored vehicle traveling eastbound in the 2600 block of Garrett Road at a high rate of speed, according to an affidavit of probable cause. Police said they were traveling westbound when the car passed them, and then crossed over double yellow lines, still traveling eastbound but in the westbound lane, driving toward oncoming traffic.
According to police, they were able to observe the driver and obtain a description of his appearance. The police said they turned around to catch up to the dark vehicle and did so around the intersection of Lansdowne Avenue and Garrett Road.
Police said the vehicle then made a left turn onto the 400 block of Lansdowne Avenue, which police followed now directly behind the car with both lights and siren activated. While the vehicle slowed, police said it did not stop. Police said that the car pulled into the entrance of a residence at 500 N. Lansdowne Ave., but then “fled through the rear of the property at a high rate of speed.”
Though there was an active construction zone on the street, police said that the vehicle continued and “drove through the construction cones.” The vehicle then entered the Performing Arts Center (PAC) parking lot of the Upper Darby High School, according to police.
“At the time the vehicle entered the parking lot, there were numerous individuals walking through the lot to go to vehicles,” police wrote in the affidavit. “The vehicle continued to travel through the roads on the high school property in a reckless manner and at a high rate of speed.”
Though the police attempted to maintain a close follow on the car, they could no longer observe the car once they reached the other side of the high school, said police. Other units were able to see the vehicle on Lansdowne Avenue, crossing State Road at a high rate of speed, police said. Police then lost visibility of the car.
According to the affidavit, the car’s registration was for a 2006 black BMW registered to a person on the 400 block of Netherwood Road in Upper Darby. Around 10:03 p.m., police said they responded to the address listed on the vehicle’s registration. There, police observed the same 2006 BMW in the driveway, with matching description and license plates.
Police said they observed a man exiting the car that also matched the description of the same police had observed previously. The man was later identified as Tyree Jasin McClain, 23, of the 400 block of Netherwood Road in Upper Darby.
McClain faces a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, as well as a misdemeanor charge of recklessly endangering another person, as well as multiple summary offenses. He was taken into custody but later released on a private surety bail posted in cash of $3,500 (10 percent of $35,000).
McClain is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 9 at 9 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Christopher R. Mattox.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
