2 Pennsylvania siblings arrested after fight over who gets to ride shotgun turns into high-speed police chase
OLYPHANT, PENNSYLVANIA: A brother and sister were arrested and charged after a fight they had about who would sit in the front seat of the car got violent and ultimately led to a police chase.
The bizarre incident unfolded in Olyphant, a city of just 5,000 people in Lackawanna County, when 27-year-old Bret Brezenski went to pick up his younger sister, 20-year-old Brianna, from work while his girlfriend was sitting shotgun, according to WNEP.
Brianna is said to have lost her cool over the girlfriend sitting in the front seat and started fighting with her brother while workers setting up the borough's Christmas tree in the area curiously watched it unfold.
They eventually called the police after noticing the girlfriend pleading for help and fearing that she was being held against her will.
"They called me and said, 'there's a girl, they're keeping hostage in the car and she's yelling for help. There's an altercation going on in the car', and they kept eyes on the car for me" said Olyphant Police Chief James Devoe.
However, when police arrived at the scene, Bret sped away, resulting in a half-mile car chase through Olyphant and into Blakely. "They had the [girlfriend's] head out the window," Devoe said. "She was hanging out of the car."
The chase ended when the car got stuck in a traffic jam near anchor in Blakely, with Devoe saying their reckless driving could have proved fatal. "Traffic was packed, they were driving like animals. stuff you could have flipped a coin over, and now we have people who could have gotten killed.'
The incident didn't end there. There was still more action to come. Bret was ordered out of the car, and after initially complying, started attacking the police chief.
"I drew my weapon. I got him calmed down for a second and told him, get up against the car," Devoe revealed. "But as soon as he saw me put my weapon down, he attacked me again, so I picked him up and threw him into the grass. I detained him."
He said that as he was trying to handcuff the 27-year-old, Brianna came over and started attacking him. "I was trying to get my handcuffs on him when the other girl came over and started attacking me. I had one cuff on him, and by this time, I was yelling for backup, and some of the other guys were starting to show up."
Bret and Brianna are both facing charges of simple assault and resisting arrest in connection with the incident. Police said Bret's girlfriend has filed for a restraining order against him and other members of his family.