A New York man was arrested after leading local and state police on a high-speed chase along Interstate 78 following an armed carjacking in northwestern Berks County.
Police successfully deployed spike strips Thursday evening to flatten the tires of the stolen car, ending the roughly 13-mile chase near Hamburg, and arrested the 20-year-old robbery suspect, Jarrion Wiggins of New York.
Bethel Township police provided this account:
A 20-year-old Bethel Township man called 911 shortly before 7 p.m. to report he had just been carjacked at gunpoint on Lancaster Avenue, which is Route 501, in the township.
The victim said he had arranged a meeting at a gas station after he and the suspect agreed through Facebook Marketplace to a transaction in which they would exchange vehicles and the victim would additionally pay a specific amount in cash to the suspect.
While on a test drive in the victim’s car, the suspect, later identified as Wiggins, displayed a handgun and forced the victim out of his own car. Wiggins then fled with the victim’s vehicle.
A responding Bethel police officer located the vehicle traveling eastbound on Interstate 78. The officer activated his emergency lights and sirens but the car accelerated, traveling at speeds exceeding 100 mph.
The Bethel officer initiated a pursuit. Troopers from the Hamburg station helped end the pursuit by setting up spike strips ahead of the fleeing vehicle as it approached the Hamburg area.
Wiggins was taken into custody after riding over the strips.
He was charged with robbery of a motor vehicle, robbery, theft of movable property, fleeing and eluding a police officer, simple assault, possessing instruments of a crime and reckless driving.
The investigation is ongoing.
After arraignment before District Judge Andrea J. Book, Wiggins was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail to await a hearing.
Bethel police said they appreciate the assistance provided by Tulpehocken Township, Tilden Township and Hamburg police as well as state police with the incidents.
