Kidnapping suspect pulled gun on trooper after car stop, cops say

An alleged kidnapper pulled a gun on a trooper after running from a car stop in southern Bucks County, Pennsylvania State Police said.

Anthony H. Bupp (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com)

Anthony H. Bupp, 23, of Philadelphia -- who was wanted on kidnapping and related charges for an incident July 30 in East Norriton Township -- was found shortly after the Friday stop hiding in a nearby shed and taken into custody.

The incident began at about 1:10 p.m. as Trooper Mohamad Saloukha stopped a Dodge Charger for a vehicle code violation in the parking lot of a Wawa at 3269 Street Road in Bensalem Township.

Neither Bupp nor the driver had any identification. Saloukha ordered Bupp out of the vehicle patted him down. Bupp tensed up as the trooper reached the area of his waistband and immediately fled toward an open field, according to police.

Saloukha drew his stun gun and gave chase, according to the Bucks County District Attorney's Office. Bupp turned toward the trooper pointing a black semiautomatic pistol toward him, but did not fire, according to police.

The trooper ducked out of the way, discarding his Taser and drawing his own handgun, and Bupp continued to flee, authorities said.

Multiple police agencies, including K-9 teams, responded and found Bupp hiding in the shed outside a nearby home, according to police.

Police recovered the handgun, according to the prosecutor's office. The driver of the Dodge fled and was still being sought as of Saturday, authorities said. The vehicle was described as a dark gray Charger with red or maroon trunk and temporary Florida license plate.

Investigators asked anyone who sees the sedan or has information about the driver to call Pennsylvania State Police at 215-942-3900.

Neither Saloukha nor Bupp was injured in the pursuit, according to police.

The incident came the same week a South Whitehall Township police officer was charged with voluntary manslaughter in the fatal shooting of Joseph "Joey" Santos, 44, of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey, in an incident July 28 outside Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom. It also followed the release Thursday of dashcam footage showing a shootout between state police and a DUI suspect last November on Route 33 in Plainfield Township that left Cpl. Seth Kelly critically wounded.

"The Pennsylvania State Police, and all police officers in Bucks County, are sworn to protect us," District Attorney Matt Weintraub said in a statement on Friday's incident. "Sometimes that means drawing a weapon and firing. Sometimes that means drawing a weapon and not firing.

"I am relieved to say that the armed subject of today's manhunt has been apprehended with no shots fired and no injuries. His gun has been recovered. I commend all law enforcement, including the Pennsylvania State Police and the Bensalem Police Department, for the professional manner in which they handled this critical incident."

Bupp was arraigned early Saturday on aggravated assault, firearms and related charges and sent to the Bucks County prison in lieu of 10 percent of $3 million bail. He previously pleaded guilty to corruption of minors in April 2015 in Bucks County and was sentenced to time served; authorities dropped sexual assault and other charges in that case.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

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