LEBANON, Pa. — The Lebanon County District Attorney's Office on Thursday announced charges against the suspect in an armed robbery who allegedly led police on a pursuit in a stolen vehicle and brandished a stolen handgun at arresting officers.
Cesar Romero Colon is charged with multiple counts of felony robbery, aggravated assault on police, possession of a stolen firearm, flight from police and possession of a firearm without a license after an alleged police pursuit that ended along Route 422 in South Lebanon Township, according to District Attorney Pier Hess Graf.
According to Graf's account of the alleged incident, Lebanon Police first encountered Colon as he was attempting to rob a victim at gunpoint. The victim fled, and Colon fired a single shot into the air before escaping from the scene on a bicycle.
Colon led police on a chase through the city before carjacking a vehicle at gunpoint. He then fled in the stolen vehicle while police gave chase.
Colon allegedly drove the wrong way on Route 422 in South Lebanon Township over the course of the pursuit, eventually striking another vehicle with his stolen car, causing serious but non-life-threatening injuries to the driver of the other car, Graf said.
The collision caused Colon to lose control of his vehicle, which left the roadway and came to rest in a nearby field. He then exited his vehicle and ran onto Route 422, where he allegedly attempted another carjacking at gunpoint as pursuing officers arrived.
Colon ignored a Lebanon City Police officer's commands to give himself up and instead attempted to carjack the officer's police vehicle, Graf said. As the Lebanon City Police officer maneuvered the vehicle out of Colon's reach, Colon allegedly brandished a handgun at him.
It was at this point that a South Lebanon Township Police officer arrived and fired two shots at Colon, who was not struck by either round and was not injured.
Colon then surrendered to police, Graf said.
After taking the suspect into custody, police determined the 9mm handgun in his possession was stolen. There was a 9mm round chambered and ready to fire, according to Graf.
"Cesar Colon risked the lives of multiple people in Lebanon County," Graf said in a statement about the incident. "He committed crime after crime with a stolen handgun; he valued no life but his own. We remain thankful today that every officer involved in this incident and we continue to pray for the recovery of the victim injured during Colon's car crash.
"This spree of violent and senseless behavior shows lessons to us all; our police must remain vigilant of the grave risk their job poses every day and with every incident; our citizens can rest assured their officers and their district attorney takes crimes committed with guns and criminal activity seriously; and our criminals have a direct example of the dire consequences they face when brought to justice in Lebanon County."
Graf added that she intends to handle Colon's charges and trial personally.
Colon remains in custody after bail was set at $1 million during his arraignment.
