Driver who crashed into Northeast Philadelphia police station moved at a "high rate of speed," DA says

Police have identified the driver who they say intentionally crashed into a Northeast Philadelphia police station on Tuesday, sending at least five people to the hospital.

Philadelphia police said 26-year-old Dieufort Joly, who has an address in Rhawnhurst, was behind the wheel of a Hyundai Tucson that crashed into the lobby of the 2nd District headquarters on Castor Avenue.

Joly was allegedly in a dispute with his father shortly before the crash over selling a car so he could pay for a trip back home to Haiti. Things then got heated, and police were called to the scene.

Sources said Joly was under the influence at the time of the incident.

Joly is being held on 10% of $1.7 million bail, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner said during a press conference Wednesday afternoon. Authorities have also taken his passport, which is from Haiti, Krasner said.

Joly had no record of arrest in Pennsylvania. It's unclear if he has a record outside the United States.

Six civilians were in the lobby when the car came crashing through around 1:40 p.m., and some were hurt, but none of the injuries were serious, Krasner said.

"We understand how traumatic this was for civilians, we understand how traumatic this was for anyone in law enforcement who may have witnessed it or even heard the crash of this vehicle," Krasner said. "This is not a vehicle that was moving 5 miles an hour. It was coming through the glass front of this new police district at a high rate of speed."

"Terrifying" video captures moment of impact

Surveillance video obtained by CBS News Philadelphia captured the moment of impact.

"The video is shocking. The video is terrifying, and frankly, it almost looks miraculous that there's no one right in the immediate path," Krasner said.

In a news conference Tuesday, Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel called the crash "clearly an absolute deliberate act."

Police said Joly was taken to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital for treatment before being taken into custody on Tuesday afternoon. None of the five people hit by debris in the lobby had serious injuries.

Joly is charged with six counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person and single counts of causing or risking a catastrophe, institutional vandalism, criminal mischief and possession of an instrument of crime. A preliminary hearing is set for May 11.

Philadelphia police and federal partners are leading the investigation, Krasner said.

Police review security measures

This isn't the first time someone drove into a Philadelphia police building. In 2023, a man driving a minivan slammed into police headquarters. 

Shortened concrete pillars known as bollards were installed there a few months after that incident. 

A police spokesperson said the department is constantly evaluating the safety and security measures at its facilities.