Pa. man accused of striking officer with SUV appears in court

A man accused of intentionally driving his SUV into police officers outside a Montgomery County hotel last year appeared in court and faced his alleged victims as well as their family and supporters.

On Wednesday, April 22, 2026, a preliminary hearing for Dalton Janiczek, 22, of Lower Gwynedd, Pennsylvania, was held at a district court in Plymouth Township, Pennsylvania.

The hearing only lasted for a few minutes as Janiczek told the judge he didn’t have any questions. His attorney also didn’t have any comments on his client’s behalf.

The officers who were injured in the incident as well as their loved ones and colleague stood in silence as Janiczek entered the courtroom as well as when he exited.

“These types of things have a toll on our officers and their families,” Plymouth Township Police Chief John Myrsiades said. “A lot of family members you’ll see here today also. And we have to stick together. They need to know that we’re going to see everyone through this.”

Janiczek’s case will be held for trial.

The incident

On Oct. 24, 2025, at 12:39 p.m., a Plymouth Township police officer responded to the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel on Fountain Road in Plymouth Township in search of a Mercedes G-Wagon. The vehicle had been involved in several incidents in Montgomery and surrounding counties and the driver – later identified as Janiczek – had called 911, telling the operator he wanted to blow up a police station and harm or kill officers, investigators said.

The responding officer spotted the Mercedes and pulled behind it with his emergency lights activated. Within seconds, Janiczek drove in reverse and struck the officer several times, investigators said.

The officer exited his vehicle, pulled out his weapon and told Janiczek to stop and show his hands, according to officials. Janiczek allegedly accelerated directly at the officer. The officer then fired six shots towards the front windshield of the Mercedes before the vehicle struck him and knocked him to the ground, according to investigators.

The officer suffered serious injuries to his leg and Janiczek continued driving, police said.

As the officer tried to apply a tourniquet to his leg, Janiczek once again drove towards him and tried to run him over three more times, according to investigators. The officer yelled for help and for Janiczek to stop, police said. Janiczek then drove away and struck a Plymouth Township police car, injuring another officer, officials said. Janiczek was then stopped and arrested.

Part of the incident was captured on cellphone video.

Janiczek is charged with attempted murder, attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, and fleeing or attempting to elude an officer.

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