CHARGES: Aggravated Assault, Recklessly
Endangering Another Person, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude a Police Officer,
Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft by Unlawful Taking, Receiving Stolen Property,
Criminal Conspiracy
DEFENDANT
#2: Ejau
Collazo, Allentown, PA (18 years of age)
CHARGES: Criminal Attempt to Commit Theft
by Unlawful Taking, Receiving Stolen Property, Criminal Conspiracy
DETAILS OF INCIDENT:
On July 14, 2022,
the Berks County District Attorney’s Detectives were notified that uniformed
on-duty Reading Police Officers were involved in a shooting.
The Berks County
District Attorney Detectives’ Office assumed the lead investigative role in
this Officer(s) Involved Shooting pursuant to District Attorney John T. Adams’
protocol to have an independent agency investigate police officer shootings. The
investigation yielded the following information:
In the early morning
hours of Thursday, July 14, 2022, the Reading Police Department received several
calls reporting a theft in progress in the 200 block of South 5th
Street, Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It was reported that multiple
subjects were attempting to steal catalytic converters from vehicle(s) parked in
and around this location.
Reading Police
Department Officers responded to the area to investigate these complaints and observed
three (3) males at this location. One of these males was observed to be holding,
what appeared to be, a saw or car jack. The three males then entered a black
Honda Accord and fled from the scene.
Members of the Reading
Police Department activated their emergency lights and sirens in an attempt to
stop this vehicle. The Honda Accord failed to comply, and a pursuit ensued. This
pursuit continued throughout Reading City, before entering westbound Route 422 and
then onto eastbound Route 12. The vehicle later exited Route 12 at the River
Road Exit where it came to a stop after entering a dead-end roadway.
As officers exited
their marked vehicle and gave verbal commands, the occupants of this vehicle failed
to comply with the commands and sped towards one of the officers. One officer
discharged their duty weapon at this vehicle.
The vehicle then struck
a marked patrol car but was able to flee from this location and eventually came
to a stop in the 4000 block of River Road, Muhlenberg Township. The operator
and rear passenger were taken into custody by the pursuing police units. The
front seat passenger fled on foot and has not been apprehended.
No police officers were
injured during this incident.
The driver, Tyvan
Barnett, was taken to Tower Health – Reading Hospital where he was treated for a gunshot wound to his leg.
Ejau Collazo was taken
to Berks County Central Booking, where he was arraigned and bail was set at $75,000. Bail was posted on July 14, 2022.
Tyvan Barnett was then arraigned and bail was set at $175,000. He is currently in Berks County Jail awaiting further court proceedings.
If anyone has any
information regarding this incident, please contact the Berks County Detectives
at 610-478-7171. Anyone with information pertaining to this incident may submit
an anonymous tip to Crime Alert Berks County by either calling (877) 373-9913,
downloading the ALERTBERKS app on your mobile device, or via text message using
your mobile phone and typing ALERTBERKS along with your tip to 847411.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an
arrest occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation, and all
defendants are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.