The entitled son of a top lawyer has been arrested after he tried to evade police by mowing down two officers with his white Mercedes G-Wagon in Pennsylvania.
Dalton Janiczek, 21, was charged with attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault, fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer and was arraigned on Saturday.
The drama unfolded on 24th October, when a sergeant attempted to stop Janiczek’s car, but the vehicle sped away, driving erratically at high speed whilst crossing over a concrete median, police said.
Police tracked the car down to a parking lot near the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel in Plymouth Township, but before long, Janiczek put the car in reverse and struck the patrol vehicle several times.
An officer jumped out and told Janiczek to stop, but the 21-year-old student allegedly accelerated directly at the officer, attempting to hit him, and the officer discharged his firearm.
Officer Shot at and Struck Multiple Times
Janiczek, who stands at 6’2ft, accelerated the vehicle again, this time striking the officer and causing him to fall. Mercedes G-Wagons cost up to $186,000 (£143,700).
As the officer attempted to administer a tourniquet to a leg wound, the Mercedes circled back around the lot and struck the officer three more times as he lay on the ground in an appalling display of brutality.
The 21-year-old sped off again in his Mercedes before hitting another parked Plymouth Patrol vehicle head-on and injuring a second officer, police said.
He was finally apprehended after the violent rampage that left two law enforcement officers requiring hospital treatment.
Both injured officers were transported to hospital, where the first officer underwent emergency surgery after being repeatedly run over. They are now in stable conditions.
High-Flying Lawyer Father
The suspect lives with his parents, including his high-flying lawyer father Lee Janiczek, at their $1.4 million (£1.1 million) home in Ambler, Pennsylvania.
His father is a partner at Lewis Brisbois LLC, representing corporations and insurance companies with their liability claims in high-stakes commercial litigation.
Lee Janiczek did not respond for comment when contacted by the Daily Mail about his son’s arrest and attempted murder charges.
Dalton Janiczek is a student at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, where he is part of the college rowing team.
Previously, he was a member of La Salle College High School’s crew team all four years, demonstrating early athletic promise.
The seasoned athlete was named captain in his senior year and won multiple awards for his sport during his time in school, suggesting a privileged upbringing with access to expensive sporting programmes.
11 Criminal Charges Since 2023
Despite his sporting and academic successes, the 21-year-old has wracked up an incredible rap sheet, with 11 criminal charges since 2023.
Nearly all of his arrests are connected to reckless driving, including speeding, driving an unregistered vehicle, misusing plate cards, careless driving, driving without a licence, and parking illegally.
Nine of his most recent charges have occurred since June 2025, during three different traffic stops, suggesting an escalating pattern of contempt for law enforcement and traffic regulations.
His latest run-in with the law is his most serious to date, having been charged with attempted murder of a Plymouth Township police officer after the violent confrontation.
The pattern of repeated traffic violations without apparent consequences may have emboldened the young man to believe he was above the law, culminating in the shocking attack on police officers.
Smiling Mugshot
In his mugshot taken following his arrest, the student is seen bleary-eyed with a smile on his face, displaying what appears to be a disturbing lack of remorse for the serious injuries inflicted on two police officers.
The smirking photograph has sparked outrage on social media, with critics suggesting it demonstrates the entitled attitude of a privileged young man who has never faced serious consequences for his actions.
He was arraigned on 25th October 2025 before Magisterial District Judge Thomas P Murt, who denied bail given the severity of the charges and the danger posed to the community.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 4th November, when prosecutors will present evidence supporting the attempted murder and aggravated assault charges.
Pattern of Escalation
Legal experts suggest the case demonstrates a clear pattern of escalation from minor traffic violations to violent assault on law enforcement officers.
The fact that Janiczek continued to run over an injured officer multiple times as he attempted to treat his own wounds suggests a level of callousness and disregard for human life that goes far beyond typical reckless driving.
Prosecutors are expected to argue that the repeated nature of the attacks, particularly circling back to strike the downed officer three additional times, demonstrates clear intent to kill rather than merely evade arrest.
The discharge of a firearm by one of the officers indicates they believed their lives were in imminent danger during the confrontation.
Plymouth Township Police Department has not released the names of the injured officers but confirmed both are receiving ongoing medical treatment and support.
The Police Chief is expected to make a statement about the incident and the officers’ conditions in the coming days.
Community members have expressed shock that a student from such a privileged background would engage in such violent behaviour towards law enforcement.
The case has reignited debates about wealthy defendants receiving preferential treatment in the criminal justice system, with critics pointing to Janiczek’s multiple prior arrests without apparent serious consequences.
If convicted of attempted murder of a law enforcement officer, Janiczek faces decades in prison under Pennsylvania law.
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