A 29-year-old man with no address drove a stolen van on Monday from Warren County, N.J., into Northampton County, Pa., on Interstate 78 West before ramming a police vehicle with two New Jersey Stare troopers inside, court papers say.
Brandon Marsalis Wesley, behind the wheel of a 2017 GMC Savana with Garden State registration, crossed into Pennsylvania about 2:45 p.m. while being pursued by New Jersey troopers, Pennsylvania State Police said court papers say.
Near the Route 33 interchange in Lower Saucon Township a “pursuit intervention technique” by a Pennsylvania State Police vehicle spun the van, stopping it facing the right side of the highway, police said. A New Jersey State Police vehicle with two troopers inside pulled forward to within 10 feet of the van, police said. The van sped forward, slammed into the driver’s side front quarter panel of the SUV, breaking the police vehicle’s front axle and pushing the vehicle sideways into a guide rail, where it stopped, police said.
A man driving a stolen van was spun to a stop Nov. 23, 2020, on Interstate 78 West in Lower Saucon Township but the driver then accelerated into the driver’s side of an occupied New Jersey State Police vehicle, pushing it into a guide rail, court papers say.Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor
When Wesley took his foot off the gas, he was arrested, police said.
The highway was briefly closed westbound. All lanes were reopened by 4:50 p.m.
Wesley was arraigned Monday night before District Judge Nicholas Englesson on charges of aggravated assault on a police officer, simple assault and harassment, court papers say. Wesley was housed in Northampton County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
A van was stopped by Pennsylvania State Police the afternoon of Nov. 23, 2020, on Interstate 78 West just past the Route 33 entrance. Driver Brandon Marsalis Wesley, 29, was arrested after he rammed a New Jersey State Police vehicle at that location, authorities say.Tim Wynkoop | lehighvalleylive.com contributor
Wesley’s preliminary hearing on the Pennsylvania charges is tentatively scheduled 9 a.m. Dec. 2 in District Judge Alan Roger Mege’s court in the township.
It is not clear what charges Wesley may face in New Jersey.
Court papers do not list an attorney for Wesley.
Tony Rhodin can be reached at [email protected].
