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7 In Custody Following High Speed Chase, Believed To Be Part Of Well-Known Gang

By Mark Abrams

LOWER MERION, Pa. (CBS) -- Authorities believe the people who triggered a high-speed police pursuit that began in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County and ended along the eastbound Schuylkill expressway near the Belmont avenue exit Tuesday afternoon may be part of a well-known gang. Police suspect they were about to rob a bank.

Treddyfrin Police Superintendent Anthony Giaimo says the actions of two firefighters who were having lunch at a fast-food restaurant at the Valley Fair Shopping Center may have helped police snare members of the gang.

"There's strong reason to believe that these are members of the Felony Lane Gang."

The firefighters saw two men attempting to alter a license plate and called police.

Giaimo says when officers arrived, gang members scattered.

But three were quickly taken into custody on the parking lot.

Four others got into a black SUV and took off, striking a Treddyfrin police car on the way out.

A high-speed police pursuit took officers onto the Schuylkill Expressway and it came to an end when traffic slowed near Belmont.

Giaimo says four people jumped out of the SUV but were quickly arrested.

He believes a bank was the gang's objective.

"In given the proximity to our local banks and other such things, we felt that was probably definitely a target area."

All suspects were arraigned on Wednesday and held in lieu of $300,000 cash bail.

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