A 32-year-old Lebanon man who stole a car at gunpoint and led Lebanon City Police officers on a lengthy chase that hurt at least one other individual has pleaded guilty to all charges before he was scheduled to go to trial in August.
Standing before Lebanon County Court of Common Pleas President Judge John Tylwalk on Friday, July 5, Cesar Wilkins Romero-Colon pleaded guilty to multiple counts of felony robbery, aggravated assault on police, possession of a stolen firearm, possession of a firearm without a license and flight from police. He was not sentenced during the hearing.
Lebanon County District Attorney Pier Hess Graf said that Romero-Colon accepting responsibility for his actions during the incident saves the victims involved from having to talk about the worst days of their lives.
"I think accepting responsibility, accountability and pleading guilty was the right decision, and frankly it's the only decision the man made since the day of the car chases that we can support," she said.
Romero-Colon also pleaded guilty July 5 to charges of drug possession, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct to police and theft in two other cases. Officials said Romero-Colon will serve a concurrent sentence for all three cases.
Romero-Colon's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Michael Light, called the plea a favorable resolution for everybody. Light added that Romero-Colon has accepted responsibility for these incidents.
Police Chase
On Nov. 7, police were dispatched to the 1100 block of Brandywine Street for a report of gunshots. With the assistance of the public, officers were able to identify the suspect as Cesar Wilkins Romero-Colon.
Romero-Colon allegedly fled on a bicycle before police arrived on scene, then stole a 2005 Dodge Caravan at the 500 block of N. 2nd St. A South Lebanon Police officer located the stolen vehicle in the area of 3rd Avenue and East Cumberland, next to a pizza restaurant. The officer attempted to stop the vehicle, when Romero-Colon drove away.
Romero-Colon then fled the wrong way down Route 422 weaving in and out of traffic at a high rate of speed with police following, according to police. As he drove the stolen vehicle to the intersection of Narrows Drive and Route 422 in South Lebanon Township, he crashed into a 1995 Toyota Corolla, according to the Lebanon County District Attorney's office.
That collision caused serious injury to a 70-year-old driver, according to officials. Colon then lost control of the stolen car, and it crashed into a nearby field.
A South Lebanon Township officer pulled over and directed Romero-Colon to exit the vehicle. Romero-Colon instead exited the vehicle and fled on foot through the field and directly onto Route 422, approaching oncoming traffic with the gun in hand.
A Lebanon City Police Department officer got out of the vehicle and commanded Romero-Colon to surrender. Officials said he brandished a firearm and attempted to steal the police vehicle.
Video obtained by a police department vehicle and shown by the district attorney's office in November shows Romero-Colon attempting to gain access to the police driver-side vehicle. The driver accelerated, causing Romero-Colon to fall to the ground.
As Romero-Colon got up, he pointed the gun towards South Lebanon Police officer. The officer fired two gunshots before he surrendered, and no one was injured as a result of the gunfire.
Romero-Colon was in possession of a stolen 9mm handgun at the time of his arrest, which he purchased as part of a "street transaction." Officials said the handgun was loaded with a round chambered.
The Lebanon County District Attorney's Office announced in November that the South Lebanon Police officer was justified when he fired on Romero-Colon.
Community impact
In one day Romero-Colon took so many things that were "the source of life" of people in the Lebanon County community, Graf said. The owner of the 2005 Dodge Caravan did not have collision insurance and is still dealing with the aftermath of Romero Colon crashing his vehicle.
"That van was how he got to work. That van was how he employed himself and he hasn't been able to afford replacing it," she said.
The driver of the 1995 Toyota Corolla had to have surgery after the collision. Graf said he had multiple injuries, including a broken leg, hip bone and left arm. He then spent month at a rehab facility recovering from his injuries.
Graf said a month before the accident with Romero-Colon, the Toyota Corolla driver had lost his wife.
"The best way I can describe it is that accident broke his spirit," she said. "He talks about the great sadness from losing his wife and losing his car, and the lack of dignity now in the physical way he has to present and conduct himself."
Graf said the officers on scene that day were very grateful that there were no officers shot and killed, because "there very easily could have been."
"You can hear on the body camera where she just yells 'No,' and you can hear the pain and the fear that's in there," Graf said.
The minimum sentence Romero-Colon could receive is 10 years, according to Graf. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 28, 2024.
Matthew Toth is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at mtoth@ldnews.com or on X at @DAMattToth.
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