LOWER POTTSGROVE >> A routine traffic stop led to a dangerous felon being taken off the streets, thanks to the “sixth sense” of one Lower Pottsgrove Police officer, according to Police Chief Michael Foltz.
Officer Scott Burnick was recognized for his service following an arrest he made last month at Monday’s township commissioners’ meeting.
On Feb. 19, at 8:26 a.m., Foltz said Burnick was on routine patrol monitoring a malfunctioning traffic signal at the intersection of Buchert Road and North Keim Street when he noticed a vehicle speed through the intersection without yielding to the flashing traffic signal, and almost hit two other vehicles.
Burnick decided to follow the vehicle and noticed several other traffic violations, so he pulled the vehicle over on Hale Street in Pottstown, Foltz said. There were two people in the car: a woman behind the wheel and a man in the passenger seat. That’s when Burnick’s “sixth sense” telling him something wasn’t right kicked in.
“Something about that male subject didn’t sit right and he asked for his identification,” Foltz said. The name the man gave wasn’t coming up in the police system, so he went back to the car a second time and asked the passenger more questions. He went back to his car to check the new set of information.
“His sixth sense is still kicking in,” he said.
The third time he goes back to the car he see the man getting information over the phone dictating a Social Security number that he should use. Foltz explained that the man was trying to give a relative’s information.
Now knowing the true identity of the man, Burnick goes back to his car and begins running his information. That’s when the man takes off out of the car and starts running away. Burnick chased after him and caught him single-handedly several blocks away using minimal force.
“As it turns out, the reason this guy was giving false information and trying to allude Officer Burnick is because he’s a felon wanted out of Pottstown for a robbery with a shotgun,” Foltz said. “He actually put a (sawed off) shotgun to somebody’s head and stole money and drugs from him.”
The man also has a lengthy rap sheet including previous armed robberies and drug offenses.
“Thanks to Officer Burnick, he took a very dangerous individual off the street that day,” said Foltz, “who could have come back to our communities and committed more crimes.”
Burnick was presented a meritorious duty award and was thanked by the board of commissioners for his service.
“One of the things we’ve done here in Lower Pottsgrove and will continue to do is have the safest police force to keep our community safe,” board Vice President Stephen Foltz said. “As you can see just by the officer’s attendance today, everyone is truly part of this community. It starts with Scott (Burnick) but some of the great training and some of the things the officers have done to get him to this place is a great place to be.”
“When we’re putting young officers and good officers on the street it just shows our community is going to remain safe,” he continued. “And their due diligence makes us safe every day.”
“Thank you for what you do,” Commissioner Earl E. Swavely Jr. said. “We have a great bunch of fellows here. We’re very fortunate here in Lower Pottsgrove. Thank you again for your service.”
