A Philadelphia man was sentenced to three years and nine months to 12 years in state prison earlier this month for leading police on a high-speed vehicle pursuit in Lancaster city 2023 that ended after he crashed into a gas line, causing a severe gas leak, all to avoid a traffic citation.

Judge Margaret Miller sentenced Waleem Felder, 46, on March 5. Judge Miller had found Felder guilty on charges of risking catastrophe, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, evading arrest, accident involving damage to an attended vehicle and four summary traffic offenses following a two-day bench trial in January.

Speaking to the court prior to his sentencing, Felder said he wanted to return to his family and “put this behind me.”

But Assistant District Attorney Kyle Linardo, who prosecuted the case, warned the court that Felder’s actions that night in 2023 could have had “catastrophic consequences” that warranted a lengthy state prison sentence.

Judge Miller agreed, noting Felder’s “wanton disregard” for police commands and the safety of others during the citywide high-speed chase, and that he “added insult to injury” by jumping out his vehicle and attempting to flee on foot after crashing.

“The thing that strikes me the most is that no one is dead,” Judge Miller said in handing down her sentence.

Additionally, the Lancaster Safety Coalition and Lancaster city police body-worn and dash camera videos which captured the chase and crash – including the audible hissing sound of the sheared gas main – “are unforgettable,” Judge Miller said, “and indicate such disregard for the safety of others.”

Police had attempted to pull Felder over for an illegal window tinting violation at the intersection of South Ann and East Mifflin streets in Lancaster city the night of Nov. 13, 2023 when he instead sped away.

“I don’t know what he was running from,” Linardo told the court prior to Felder’s sentencing, noting that the entire incident could have ended with a simple traffic citation.

Instead, a high-speed pursuit ensued from one end of Lancaster city to the other, during which Felder ran four different stop signs and red lights. The chase reached such high speeds that police were not able to safety keep up with Felder’s vehicle.

Police were able to track Felder’s movements with the help of Lancaster Safety Coalition video.

Pedestrians on sidewalks were endangered by Felder’s dangerous speeding during the chase. On one occasion, a bicyclist had to jump out of the way of Felder’s vehicle to avoid being struck.

Felder was attempting to turn onto the 300 block of West Mifflin Street but instead crashed into a home, severing the residence’s gas line and causing a gas leak. According to testimony from Lancaster City Bureau of Fire Chief David Martin and Lt. Alex Carcamo, the leak was so severe that any ignition source, including from Felder’s own abandoned and still-running vehicle, could have caused a large explosion.

Multiple residences in the area of the crash were evacuated by Lancaster city police and fire personnel as a precaution until the fire department and UGI could stop the leak and test gas levels inside the homes.

The pursuit continued when Felder jumped out of the vehicle feet-first and attempted to flee from police on foot. Lancaster Safety Coalition video tracked Felder to a bar in the 300 block of West Walnut Street where police arrested him less than an hour after the crash.

In addition to the prison sentence, Judge Miller also ordered Felder to pay more than $8,000 in restitution to the homeowner whose gas line was struck and UGI.

Lancaster City Bureau of Police Officer Joseph Good filed the charges.