Police searching for driver who fled traffic stop in stolen vehicle in Shaler Township

SHALER TOWNSHIP, Pa. — Police are searching for a driver after they fled from a traffic stop in a stolen car in Shaler Township early Tuesday.

The incident began when Ross Township Police started to follow a vehicle into Shaler that had been stolen from their area.

When police attempted to stop the vehicle, the driver accelerated. Spike strips were deployed, and two of the tires were flattened before the vehicle crashed into a yard less than a mile away.

The driver, whom police believe was the only person inside the SUV, fled on foot.

When our crews arrived on the scene, officers were using a drone and a K-9 to try and locate the driver with no success. 

Iris Byers tells Channel 11 it was her SUV that was stolen nearly a month ago from the parking lot of her apartment complex in Ross Township.

“It was very uneventful until today,” Byers tells Channel 11. “My car literally went missing, and it was like, no, we haven’t seen it on any cameras, like it hasn’t popped up anywhere, and now today it’s found crashed into somebody’s garage.”

Byers is a third-year law student who is now without a car, lost $800 worth of textbooks, her computer and her ID. 

“My wallet was in my car, so they actually know who I am,” Byers added.  “So now I’m kind of scared ... I’m just imagining him driving around with all of my stuff and it is just so weird.”

Byers says the suspect also took something that could be used to help catch them. 

“I had a Starbucks gift card in my wallet,” Byers said. “He used it and because it was linked to my app, I could see his Starbucks order on my phone. He got the ham and cheese croissant, I think, and a Refresher.” 

Byers showed us a screenshot from her Starbucks app showing that order from the Market Square Starbucks at 1:43 p.m. on Sept. 5.  She says, at the time, she handed that screenshot over to Ross Township police so they could look into surveillance video from that location. 

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW

©2025 Cox Media Group