Brian Touchton
The Chester County District Attorney’s Office and the Pennsylvania State Police announced that there was a trooper-involved shooting in Avondale, Pennsylvania at approximately 11:30 p.m. on May 23, 2018. Three Troopers discharged their weapons, authorities said. Nobody was struck or injured in the shooting.
At 11:21 p.m., the State Police received a call for an erratic driver in the area of Route 1 and Route 796. Two marked PSP patrol vehicles responded. They reportedly observed the driver of a Saturn weaving and operating the vehicle with an expired registration.
The driver of the vehicle in question was later identified as Brian Touchton.
The troopers attempted to pull the Saturn over. The driver of the Saturn then allegedly fled, with the troopers in pursuit. The troopers reportedly tried to box the car in, but authorities said the driver of the Saturn continued to flee. The driver eventually turned into a large, open area where mushroom compost is stored on Old Baltimore Pike, Avondale, Pennsylvania.
The Troopers boxed in the driver of the Saturn, which was now stopped, and exited their vehicles. Once the Troopers were on foot and while there was still contact between the vehicles, the driver reportedly attempted to flee by placing the Saturn in reverse. Three troopers then discharged their service weapons at that point, police said.
The driver of the Saturn did not stop, but allegedly kept fleeing. The troopers again pursued the Saturn. A third PSP vehicle joined the chase. The driver of the Saturn eventually drove behind a building and became stuck in the underbrush. The driver then surrendered to the troopers. The driver was not injured.
The driver, Touchton, is in custody, charged with fleeing and eluding, DUI, and driving with a suspended license. Pending the conclusion of this investigation, additional charges may be filed.
Pursuant to the Chester County District Attorney’s Office Protocol, the Chester County Detectives — the investigative arm of the District Attorney’s Office — will be the independent agency who will review this officer-involved shooting. The Chester County Detectives will work with the Pennsylvania State Police on this matter. The Chester County District Attorney will then make a decision regarding whether the shooting was justified.
All of this information is preliminary, pending a full review of all available evidence. At the conclusion of the investigation, the District Attorney’s Office will provide written findings.
