A man was run over by a bulldozer during a police pursuit on State Game Lands in Penn Township on July 9. Pennsylvania State Police ruled the death accidental.
State Police report that a Pennsylvania Game Commission employee was operating a bulldozer on State Game Lands in the area of Snyder School Road and S. Garfield Road, Penn Township around 10 a.m. He saw a car parked well off the road in a field.
According to State Police, Bernville Borough Police were first to respond to this location. Shortly after arriving on location two men came out of the very thick underbrush. There were 10 marijuana plants in the area where they came from. Both men fled on foot.
One of the men, David Brook Light, 54, Sinking Spring, was taken into custody by the Bernville Police Chief. The second man, later identified as Gregory A. Longenecker, 51, Reading, eluded capture at that time.
State Police and Pennsylvania Game Commission resources were sent to this area around 11 a.m. This included State Police aviation, patrol members, and vice unit members.
Longenecker was briefly located by the State Police helicopter in thick underbrush. An attempt to hail Longenecker was unsuccessful.
State Police report that the helicopter lost site of Longenecker and was giving directions to the bulldozer of his last location. The Game Commission employee and a Trooper were on the bulldozer driving through the thick underbrush. The bulldozer stopped in the underbrush. Longenecker was located under the rear of the bulldozer deceased.
Brook Light was charged with various drug offenses and trespassing. He was arraigned on July 9. He was released on $25,000.00 unsecured bail.
State Police were assisted by Mt. Pleasant and Bernville Fire Companies, Western Berks EMS, Lower Heidelberg Twp. and Bernville Borough Police Department.
