NORRISTOWN — An Elkins Park man is headed to prison on gun and drug charges after leading state police on a high-speed pursuit in Pottstown and Lower Pottsgrove Township.
Michael Joseph Thorne Jr., 28, of the 7900 block of Ronaele Drive, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to 4 to 8 years in a state correctional institution after he pleaded guilty to charges of person not to possess a firearm and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances, specifically heroin/fentanyl and methamphetamine, in connection with a January 2023 incident that began in Pottstown and ended in Lower Pottsgrove.
Judge Risa Vetri Ferman ordered that Thorne be evaluated for substance abuse disorder. The judge also recommended that Thorne be eligible for the state Department of Corrections’ drug treatment program while serving his sentence.
An investigation began about 12:20 a.m. Jan 7, 2023, when state police attempted to make a traffic stop of a Dodge Durango operated by Thorne after he allegedly exceeded the posted speed limit on Walnut Street and turned left onto Warren Street without stopping at the posted stop sign, according to a criminal complaint filed by state police Trooper Christopher Abbott of the Skippack barracks.
Thorne failed to yield to police emergency lights and sirens and a vehicle pursuit was initiated during which Thorne traveled westbound on King Street “and failed to stop at every posted stop sign,” police alleged in court papers. At times, police alleged, Thorne traveled at speeds in excess of 80 mph in the borough.
While traveling on North Keim Street, Thorne tossed a handgun, a Glock 19, from the vehicle and it was located by “an upstanding citizen” who notified police, according to the arrest affidavit.
“The handgun was loaded with an extended magazine which is designed to hold 24 rounds of 9mm ammunition. The magazine contained 16 rounds of 9mm ammunition,” Abbott alleged, adding one round was loaded in the chamber of the gun. “Thorne continued to flee after throwing the handgun.”
Thorne reached speeds in excess of 80 mph in residential areas, failed to stop at multiple stop signs, traveled the wrong way on one-way streets and traveled through red lights, police said.
“These actions not only placed troopers at risk but put the public in danger,” Abbott alleged.
Police said Thorne eventually traveled onto Kepler Road in Lower Pottsgrove and then onto Buchert Road where police were able to get in front of his vehicle and bring him to a stop and block him at Ludwig Lane.
Police took Thorne into custody at that point. A review of Thorne’s criminal history revealed he had a previous robbery conviction that made him a person not to possess a firearm, according to the criminal complaint.
When police searched Thorne’s vehicle they found about one pound of suspected methamphetamine under the driver’s seat, 339 bags of suspected heroin/fentanyl and suspected cocaine in a red cloth bag on the rear passenger floor behind the driver’s seat, court papers indicate. Police also found drug packaging material, a digital scale and a bag containing $660 cash inside the vehicle.
Other charges of fleeing or eluding police, resisting arrest, possession of controlled substances, speeding and reckless and careless driving were dismissed against Thorne in exchange for his guilty plea to the most serious charges.
Prosecutors Robert Joseph Waeltz Jr. and Blair Rohlfing handled the case. Defense lawyer Brandi L. McLaughlin represented Thorne during the court proceedings.
