High-speed Chase Ends in Collision and Surrender of Cesar Wilkins Romero Colon

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf has unveiled the images of the high-speed, wrong-way chase that occurred on November 7th. The pursuit ended in a collision and the injury of a passing motorist, with the suspect, 32-year-old Cesar Wilkins Romero Colon of Lebanon, being apprehended after police fired shots at him.

During a press conference held on Wednesday, November 30th, Hess Graf presented a series of video and still images that depicted the chase from its initiation at 3rd Avenue and East Cumberland Street (Route 422) in Lebanon city. The pursuit continued until Romero Colon surrendered on Route 422 near Narrows Drive, approximately 2 miles east. While copies of the still images were provided, the District Attorney declined to distribute copies of the video footage to media outlets.

According to previous releases by the D.A. and the Lebanon Police Department, along with Hess Graf’s remarks on November 30th, the incident began on a Tuesday afternoon in Lebanon city. At approximately 2:24 p.m., Lebanon police officers responded to a report of gunshots in the 1100 block of Brandywine Street on the north side of the city. Upon arrival, they encountered a man who claimed that an assailant with a handgun had demanded that he empty his pockets. The victim managed to flee and heard a gunshot as he escaped. Witnesses at the scene identified Romero Colon as the suspect and informed the police that he had fled on a bicycle.

Approximately thirty minutes later, city police received a report of a stolen 2005 Dodge Caravan on North 2nd Street. The owner informed officers that he had left the vehicle unattended and returned to find Romero Colon attempting to drive it away. The suspect pointed a handgun at the owner, threatening to shoot if he didn’t stay back, and then drove off in the stolen vehicle.

A short while later, South Lebanon police officers spotted Romero Colon driving the stolen Caravan at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and East Cumberland Street. They initiated a pursuit as he sped east on one-way Cumberland Street, dangerously weaving through oncoming westbound traffic. East Cumberland Street eventually transitions into U.S. Route 422 at the city line. The high-speed chase came to a dramatic end approximately 2 miles later when the stolen Caravan collided with another vehicle on Route 422 near Narrows Drive. The driver of the other vehicle, a 70-year-old man, sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital. While he has since been released, no further updates on his condition were provided.

After the collision, Romero Colon, armed with a loaded 9mm handgun, emerged from the stolen Caravan and attempted to carjack another vehicle. However, pursuing city officers arrived at the scene, and Romero Colon attacked them. He also made an unsuccessful attempt to commandeer a city police vehicle that had an officer inside.

Eventually, Romero Colon surrendered after a South Lebanon officer fired two shots at him, neither of which struck him. Additional officers arrived at the scene, leading to his apprehension. District Attorney Hess Graf stated during the press conference that the officer’s decision to fire at Romero Colon was justified.

Romero Colon faces several serious charges, including robbery, aggravated assault on police, and possession of a stolen firearm. If convicted, he could potentially face decades in a state prison. As of November 30th, he remains in the Lebanon County Correctional Facility, unable to post the $1 million bail that has been set. The preliminary hearing, originally scheduled for November 30th, has been postponed, and a new date has yet to be announced.

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