Carjacker’s first mistake?
Targeting a cop

By Diane Prokop
Times Staff Writer

When a carjacker attacked Capt. Frank Bachmayer, commander of the 15th Police District, the guy soon realized he’d made a serious mistake.
Bachmayer, a 25-year veteran of the Philadelphia Police Department, was patrolling the district in an unmarked car at about 7:45 p.m. on Sept. 19 and had stopped at a traffic light on Unruh Avenue at State Road.
"I had my window rolled down. It was a beautiful night," Bachmayer said, recalling the episode from behind his desk at 15th district headquarters at Harbison Avenue and Levick Street.
The assailant, later identified as Lamont Ealy, initially walked past the car. About 30 seconds later, he came up and punched Bachmayer in the face, yelling, "Get out of the car, mother f——-!"
The attacker saw Bachmayer’s police radio and ran west on Unruh. Although he was bleeding profusely because of the punch, Bachmayer radioed for assistance and pursued the attacker in his patrol car.
"He was not getting away. I just wanted to be focused and apprehend him as quickly and safely as possible," the 15th district commander said.
The assailant dashed southbound on Keystone Street and made it to Magee Avenue, then started running east to State Road.
"I cut him off, got out of the car and chased him southbound on State Road for about a block. He heard sirens and knew he was going to be apprehended. He was apprehended by me," Bachmayer said.
Bachmayer didn’t speak to his attacker when he caught him.
"I was laying on him on State Road, waiting for other officers to arrive. Officers and supervisors from the fifteenth and second districts responded," he said.
The captain went to Jeanes Hospital, where he was treated and released. Bachmayer didn’t need stitches, though one of the two wounds on and above his lip still bleeds now and then.
It was Bachmayer’s first experience as a crime victim.
"It happens so fast. We tell rookies that crime happens very quickly and you have to be prepared for it. I guess I was prepared for it," Bachmayer said.
The captain was just relieved that the situation didn’t escalate, and especially that no officers were injured during the apprehension.
"I didn’t know where he was going to go. He could have gone onto the Amtrak tracks (or) hopped the fence onto I-95, but everything worked out," Bachmayer said.
Ealy, 22, of the 900 block of W. Erie Ave., was charged with aggravated assault, robbery, carjacking and resisting arrest. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 28.
When asked whether he’d nominate himself for the district’s Officer of the Month, Bachmayer said, "That’s never going to happen." ••
Reporter Diane Prokop can be reached at 215-354-3036 or dprokop@phillynews.com