'I Was Trying To Swing Into The Car': Dealership Manager Dragged Several Feet As Woman Drives Off With Car
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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - A Philadelphia dealership employee was dragged for several feet as a woman allegedly drove off the lot with a vehicle she had asked to see.
Police say it happened at the Central City Toyota dealership located at 4800 Chestnut Street, around 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The woman asked to see a silver 2013 Dodge Dart that was parked in the lot area. That's when police say the woman started the car and drove off with it.
That's when Jamie Haberle, the dealership's general manager, was dragged several feet before falling to the ground.
"I'm actually happy that it happened to me and not one of my staff members," said Haberle. "I had the driver's side door open and I was leaning into the car going over features when she accelerated and went right around there."
"I was trying to swing into the car to stop her because I didn't want an accident to occur. I wanted to safeguard our property," Haberle added.
Haberle eventually let go of the car when he got to the intersection of Chestnut Street. He was then rushed to the hospital.
"I broke my wrist, broke my nose. Got a little road rash but other than that I'm ok," said Haberle.
The woman sped off south on 48th Street. Police almost had a break in the case.
"She showed up at a dealership within the city confines and then attempted to sell that car to another dealer. That dealer clearly watched different newscasts of it and called police right away and she ran out of the business and just jumped in the car and took off with it again," said Lt. John Walker with the Philadelphia Police Department.
As detectives ramp up their investigation, Haberle says he's glad to get back to work.
"Only job I've had in 25 years. I love what I'm doing. We have a long standing clientele of customers," he said.
But first, he wants this criminal customer in custody.
"Why would you endanger another human life to take a brazen act of stealing a car from us? What desperate measure did you decide to take in order to endanger somebody?" said Haberle.
The suspect is described as a black female, 40 years old, wearing a white jacket with a dark-colored shirt underneath, white pants, and a brown head wrap.
If you have any information on this incident, call police at 215-686-TIPS.
