A serial burglary suspect "who had clearly been terrorizing the area" died after a high-speed chase by police, according to authorities in suburban Philadelphia.
Police in Upper Bucks County say 45-year-old Jonathan Fineman had eluded officers during three other recent vehicle chases. On Friday night, police say, he led officers on a pursuit during rush hour that began in Plumstead and ended a few miles north on Route 611 in Bedminister when he crashed a stolen pickup truck.
Police say Fineman ran from the scene, and an officer fired when Fineman reached toward his waistband and appeared to have something in his hand. Authorities say they believed he was carrying a handgun taken during a recent burglary, but no gun was found.
The shot killed Fineman, who was a suspect in numerous burglaries and vehicle thefts in Central and Upper Bucks County and was also believed to have committed crimes in Montgomery County.
"He clearly had been terrorizing these areas...and he was believed to be armed and dangerous because he was believed to have stolen a 9 millimeter handgun from one of those burglaries," said Bucks County First Assistant District Attorney David Zellis.
The officers involved in the chase have been placed on administrative leave while the shooting is being investigated.
