Caught on Cam: Man Arrested After High-Speed Police Chase

Police say suspect was the target of a multi-jurisdiction burglary task force

Philadelphia Police took a man wanted in connection to possibly dozens of burglaries in at least two states into custody Monday after he led police on a wild high-speed chase that ended on his Northeast Philadelphia street.

The chase started around 2 p.m. as the suspect, Derrick Carter of the 4600 block of Sheffield Avenue, tried to elude authorities as he drove in a black BMW with allegedly fraudulent plates. The chase eventually reached speeds up to 100 mph along I-95.

Police tell NBC10’s Rosemary Connors that Carter was on the radar of a multi-jurisdiction burglary task force since he was charged in a late 2011 burglary in Philadelphia. Those charges were later dismissed, according to court records.

Police say Carter’s MO was prying open a door of a home and going after jewelry and electronics -- specifically flatscreen TVs. Arrest warrants were issued earlier Monday in Lower Merion Township and in New Castle County, Del. after earlier thefts.

Carter, 33, was suspected of burglarizing three more homes -- in Marple, Swarthmore and New Castle County, Del. -- just Monday morning alone. Investigators followed Carter and another man to an apartment complex in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia where the suspcts allegedly tried to stash stolen items in a dumpster.

One suspect got out and ran on foot -- he was still on the loose late Monday night. But Carter allegedly drove off; police say he almost hit an officer, before he got onto I-76 before eventually winding up on I-95 northbound. Chopper 10 cameras rolled as the suspect's vehicle traveled at nearly 100 mph, weaving in and out of traffic while narrowly missing other vehicles, including a school bus.

Chopper 10 cameras then captured the BMW pulling into the garage of a home on the 4600 block of Sheffield Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. A woman allegedly opened the garage doors to let the vehicle in.

The cameras continued to roll as several police officers arrived at the location. After waiting outside for a few minutes, officers then broke the lock of the garage and opened up the doors. With guns raised, they ordered a man out of the garage and placed him in handcuffs.

"I saw the police surround the garage and I saw them take out a female and a heavy-set male but I don't know them," said one witness to Carter’s arrest.

Carter has a long rap sheet including twice pleading guilty to DUI, twice pleading guilty to drug charges and pleading guilty to a firearms charge stemming from a 2002 arrest.

He also has a history of trying to get away from police. He was placed on probation after pleading guilty to fleeing an officer and reckless endangerment stemming from a 2010 incident, according to court records.

The woman, described as Carter’s girlfriend, who allegedly let him into the Sheffield Street home was also taken into custody. She wasn’t charged as of late Monday night.

The couple’s children were in the custody of their grandparents, according to police.

Police stayed on the scene throughout the night eventually bringing out evidence including a necklace and what looked like a jewelry box.
 

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