The African-born former postal worker threatened the supervisor and caused a closure of the post office, reports stated
A former Lansdale postal worker seeking his final paycheck led state units on a police chase through multiple communities, on his way to his former workplace with threats of violence, according to reports.
According to police, Andil Fatokinsi, 20, of the 4500 block of G Street in Philadelphia, began his multiagency offenses when he stopped at the Lansdale Post Office on Wednesday, Oct. 9 asking for his final check. A manager there told him that it was not yet ready, and to come back on Friday, said reports.
A Pennsylvania State Police Troop K unit was on patrol on Friday, Oct. 11 around 10:09 a.m. when police stated they saw a white Toyota Camry bearing Pennsylvania plates speeding and cutting off other vehicles while traveling on Route 309 northbound in the area of mile marker 8.4 in Lower Gwynedd Township. The PSP unit attempted to make a traffic stop at this time, but the Camry did not stop, and instead exited via the off ramp for northbound Bethlehem Pike to Welsh Road in Horsham Township.
Reports stated that the Camry then turned westbound onto Welsh Road continuing to ignore the police emergency lights and siren as PSP chased behind. During the pursuit, police said that the driver of the Camry crossed over multiple traffic lanes without signal, coming “within inches of striking two vehicles at a high rate of speed,” near Welsh Road and Darden Drive.
Police said that the car continued westbound on Welsh, crossing into opposing lanes of traffic “disregarding society and traffic lights at a high rate of speed.” Due to the risk of the safety of others, PSP ended the pursuit around 10:14 a.m. as Welsh Road intersects with Route 202, said reports.
At 10:21 a.m. the pursuing PSP unit received notification that the vehicle and its driver was located at 20 Vine St., in Lansdale, at the rear of the post office building. Police reports stated that the vehicle was seen in the middle of the road on Montgomery Avenue, unoccupied with the windows down, the music volume on high playing from the car, and, given its positioning, was blocking the business exit for postal service employees.
Lansdale Borough Police said they’d received a report of an irate postal service former employee at the location around 9:39 a.m. on the same date, preceding the PSP pursuit of the Camry. A supervisor at the post office reported that Fatokinsi was instructed on Oct. 9 to come back on Friday for a final paycheck, but that he was to use the retail window and not the employee entrance to do so. The supervisor said that Fatokinsi was wearing a crossbody Gucci brand bag at the time and stated, “You see this?” holding up the bag, said reports. Fatokinsi also held up his hands, which were covered in black nitrate gloves, and said “Do you see these?” before leaving the post office, police said.
On Friday morning, the supervisor told police that around 9:30 a.m., he’d gotten a text message from Fatokinsi which read “Hello mama’s boy. I’m on my way,” reports stated. The supervisor said he did not recognize the number, and asked who it was, to which a text response was returned stating “Andil,” said police.
According to reports Fatokinsi continued to message the supervisor “things about social media, racism, and ended with a text stating, “We enemies now” and “You can’t track my arrival,” which caused the supervisor to alert Lansdale police.
Police said they then texted Fatokinsi’s phone around 9:51 a.m., explaining they were the police and wanted to speak to him regarding the incident at the post office in Lansdale, to which he responded, “Haha, You Better be there as well.” Reports stated that police requested that Fatokinsi meet with them at the police station in Lansdale, but Fatokinsi responded “Meet me at 20 Vine,” the address of the post office.
The postal office supervisor told police that Fatokinsi came into the office, and while in the front lobby said “You think I’m scared of cops … You are going to be my first body.” According to police reports, the supervisor then ordered the front window staff to secure the service window and to go back into the employee-only workspace for safety. The supervisor continued to relay to employees to gather and shelter inside the building, securing all doors fearing for employees’ lives, police said. This caused a halt of postal office operations, as the employees then ceased customer service, said reports.
Reports showed that Fatokinsi’s white Toyota Camry was located at the post office around 10:19 a.m., and that Fatokinsi was inside the building when police arrived. Police said they contacted Fatokinsi in front of the post office’s entrance, confirming his identity with two passports he presented to them. At this time, according to police reports, the Lansdale police were notified of the PSP chase that had occurred moments prior, and Fatokinsi was detained at that time for further investigation.
During the consequent investigation, the supervisor of the post office told police that he feared Fatokinsi was carrying a firearm in his Gucci bag, and that, based on prior interactions, text messages and actions by Fatokinsi, he believed Fatokinsi was going to kill him and posed a serious threat to other postal employees.
Police said that, based on the investigation, Fatokinsi intended to terrorized another person with his actions, and that, due to his behavior, he caused a service disruption, as well, diverting the Lansdale Post Office employees from their regular service duties.
PSP reported that they were able to take the detained Fatokinsi from Lansdale police and transport him to PSP Philadelphia Barracks, where he was processed and transported to Montgomery County jail.
Fatokinsi is facing a felony charge of fleeing or attempting to elude an officer, as well as secondary charges of driving at an unsafe speed, disregarding traffic lanes, careless drive, and turning movements requiring signals due to his PSP car chase in Lower Gwynedd and Horsham townships. Additionally, Fatokinsi is charged with felony level terroristic threats to cause serious public inconvenience, as well as a misdemeanor count of terroristic threats, with intent to terrorize another and a summary offense charge of harassment for the incident at the Lansdale Post Office.
Fatokinsi is being held in the Montgomery County jail unable to post a monetary cash percentage bail of $5,000, a 10% rate of its total. Fatokinsi is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Suzan Leonard on Oct. 31 at 11:30 a.m. for his PSP-related charges, while he is also scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 13 at noon before Magisterial District Judge Edward Levine for the Lansdale incidents. His bail was denied in the post office matter.
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
