What to Know
- Authorities in Philadelphia say a man is facing charges after he allegedly intentionally rammed a minivan into the entrance of the new police headquarters.
- Police say officers inside the Philadelphia Public Services Building just north of the city center responded to the crash shortly before 5 a.m. Tuesday and found a silver minivan inside the entrance. No injuries to anyone in the building were reported. The driver was treated at a hospital.
- Police say preliminary information indicates that the driver was heading south on Broad Street “and as he approached the building’s front eastern entrance, he slowed down, turned westbound, hopped the curb, and drove directly into the PPSB doors.”
Police have identified the driver who was taken away in handcuffs after he drove a minivan into the front doors of Philadelphia police headquarters Tuesday morning.
On Tuesday afternoon, police arrested Wilfredo Santiago, 71, for his role in a vehicular crash that damaged the front entrance of the Philadelphia Public Services Building.
Santiago has been charged with criminal mischief, institutional vandalism, possession of an instrument of crime, and recklessly endangering another person, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner's office announced.
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Law enforcement officials have said that Santiago would be ordered to undergo a mental health evaluation.
The crash happened around 4:45 a.m. as NBC10's Randy Gyllenhaal and other reporters were at the building reporting on other news overnight.
It appears that, some reason, Santiago made a hard turn, hopped the curb and slammed into the front brass doors of the new headquarters.
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Police said preliminary information indicated that the driver was heading south on Broad Street “and as he approached the building’s front eastern entrance, he slowed down, turned westbound, hopped the curb, and drove directly into the PPSB doors.”
The impact made a loud bang.
The silver Honda Odyssey remained on the sidewalk in front of the mangled doorway after the wreck.
After the wreck, police officers could be seen leading Santiago -- who was taken out of the van screaming -- through the building while in handcuffs. Police then led him out of the building and into a vehicle. Police said they planned to take Santiago to the hospital.
It didn't appear anyone in the building was hurt.
One lane of southbound Broad Street near Callowhill Street was closed as police investigated. The lane was later reopened as crews continued to work on repairs to the doorway through the morning.
Santiago was held in custody on $30,000 bail, according to online court records that don't name a specific attorney who could comment on his behalf.
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