By CHRISTINE OLLEY Philadelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
Montgomery County officials yesterday announced the arrest of a 17-year-old Norristown boy in connection with a July 22 confrontation on the Schuylkill River Bike Trail in Plymouth Township that ended in gunfire.
When police searched the juvenile's home Friday, they also found what District Attorney Risa Ferman called a bicycle "chop shop."
Ferman said the boy was somehow obtaining bicycles, deconstructing them and using the parts to build other bikes for resale.
Cops are investigating whether the bikes were stolen, Ferman said.
Police have not determined whether several assaults along the trail are related to the "chop shop," she added.
For the incident on the bike trail, the boy was adjudicated delinquent for simple assault at a court hearing on Monday and was held pending a disposition hearing, Ferman said.
Yesterday's announcement stemmed from last Wednesday's incident in which Joseph James DePaul Jr., 27, attempted to enter the trail but the 17-year-old and a 15-year-old boy, who were not identified, blocked his entry.
DePaul was able to go around the boys but they followed him and a confrontation followed, Ferman said.
"The 17-year-old actually kicked him, kicking him in the ribs and almost knocking him off the bike causing him to ride into the fence," Ferman said.
"That encounter ultimately led [DePaul]to pull out a firearm and fire shots towards the 17-year-old," Ferman said.
DePaul felt he was firing in self-defense, Ferman said, but he was charged with attempted murder, manslaughter and assault.
DePaul was arrested the day of the incident.
Ferman said yesterday that DePaul, who is scheduled to appear in court today for a preliminary hearing, will not be facing such serious charges.
However, "there is an aspect of his conduct that needs to be examined and we have to decide what the appropriate resolution will be," Ferman said.
The bike trail has seen increasing trouble recently.
On June 3, a woman riding the trail was punched in the face and more recently, Ferman herself encountered kids who were acting in what she characterized as a "very territorial way."
Police have stepped up patrols on the trail, Ferman said.
"People using the trail, whether they're walking or running or bike riding shouldn't have to be worried about thugs who are just trying to mark their territory," she said.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 24, 2009
Man nabbed in 220G jewelry-store heist
By CHRISTINE OLLEYPhiladelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
Police yesterday announced the arrest of a Strawberry Mansion man charged in connection with a robbery last month that netted about $220,000 worth of watches from an upscale Center City men's store.
Nathaniel Williams, 19, of Page Street near 31st, was arrested near his home Wednesday night at 31st and Berks streets, police said.
He was charged with robbery, conspiracy and related offenses for allegedly being one of the four men who robbed Govberg's Jewelry Store inside Boyd's on Chestnut Street near 18th, police said.
The armed robbers entered the store about 2:15 p.m. on June 4, said Lt. Richard Brown, of Central Detectives.
Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, said that Williams and another man subdued a security guard and several store employees with pepper spray while the other two smashed display cases and swiped high-end watches.
"It was well-executed," Brown said of the robbery. "From the time they entered the store to the time they left took all of about 30 seconds."
Cops said the thieves escaped by driving a getaway car through the parking lot on Chestnut to Ranstead Street.
Those who were hit with pepper spray didn't require hospitalization, and no one else was injured during the crime, police said.
Store surveillance video helped police track down Williams, Vanore said.
Asked if Williams was helping police to find the other suspects, Vanore said only that "the investigation is ongoing." *
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
Police yesterday announced the arrest of a Strawberry Mansion man charged in connection with a robbery last month that netted about $220,000 worth of watches from an upscale Center City men's store.
Nathaniel Williams, 19, of Page Street near 31st, was arrested near his home Wednesday night at 31st and Berks streets, police said.
He was charged with robbery, conspiracy and related offenses for allegedly being one of the four men who robbed Govberg's Jewelry Store inside Boyd's on Chestnut Street near 18th, police said.
The armed robbers entered the store about 2:15 p.m. on June 4, said Lt. Richard Brown, of Central Detectives.
Lt. Frank Vanore, a police spokesman, said that Williams and another man subdued a security guard and several store employees with pepper spray while the other two smashed display cases and swiped high-end watches.
"It was well-executed," Brown said of the robbery. "From the time they entered the store to the time they left took all of about 30 seconds."
Cops said the thieves escaped by driving a getaway car through the parking lot on Chestnut to Ranstead Street.
Those who were hit with pepper spray didn't require hospitalization, and no one else was injured during the crime, police said.
Store surveillance video helped police track down Williams, Vanore said.
Asked if Williams was helping police to find the other suspects, Vanore said only that "the investigation is ongoing." *
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Parents of tot who died in locked car sue day-care center
By CHRISTINE OLLEY Philadelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
The parents of a 2-year-old boy left in the back seat of a locked car with the windows up on July 1 are suing a Bucks County day-care center and its owners entrusted with the tot's care, a lawyer said yesterday.
Daniel Weinstock, who is representing Gil and Lyudmila Slutsky, the parents of Daniel Slutsky, said they know that the lawsuit won't bring their son back but wanted to draw attention to the problem of leaving youngsters in locked cars.
"The rule should be that no child can ever be left behind in a locked car," Weinstock said.
"Lots of times it's a mom or a child-care provider who runs into the store or the house and thinks it might just be a minute, but then for whatever reason it takes longer," he said.
The complaint, filed Tuesday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, charges that the Slutskys' neighbor and co-owner of Fairy Tales Daycare, Rimma Shvartsman, was paid to take Daniel to the center, on Highland Avenue in Penndel, at least three times a week.
On July 1, Shvartsman did that.
But when she arrived at the center, "Shvartsman inexplicably left Daniel Slutsky alone in the back seat of her minivan, with the windows closed and the doors locked," the complaint says.
Outdoor temperatures that day exceeded 80 degrees, and after Daniel was found about 4:30 p.m. and rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead of hyperthermia, also known as heat stroke, authorities said.
No criminal charges were filed.
"They're devastated," Weinstock said of the Slutskys. "In addition to the obvious shock and hurt, they feel completely betrayed" because Shvartsman was a neighbor and friend. Shvartsman's attorney, Michael Mustokoff, said the incident was a tragic accident. "Mrs. Shvartsman has said and expressed her sympathy in every way she knows how," he said.
No court date has been set.
phillycom:http://www.philly.com/philly/news/51459917.html
Buzz up!
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
The parents of a 2-year-old boy left in the back seat of a locked car with the windows up on July 1 are suing a Bucks County day-care center and its owners entrusted with the tot's care, a lawyer said yesterday.
Daniel Weinstock, who is representing Gil and Lyudmila Slutsky, the parents of Daniel Slutsky, said they know that the lawsuit won't bring their son back but wanted to draw attention to the problem of leaving youngsters in locked cars.
"The rule should be that no child can ever be left behind in a locked car," Weinstock said.
"Lots of times it's a mom or a child-care provider who runs into the store or the house and thinks it might just be a minute, but then for whatever reason it takes longer," he said.
The complaint, filed Tuesday in Philadelphia Common Pleas Court, charges that the Slutskys' neighbor and co-owner of Fairy Tales Daycare, Rimma Shvartsman, was paid to take Daniel to the center, on Highland Avenue in Penndel, at least three times a week.
On July 1, Shvartsman did that.
But when she arrived at the center, "Shvartsman inexplicably left Daniel Slutsky alone in the back seat of her minivan, with the windows closed and the doors locked," the complaint says.
Outdoor temperatures that day exceeded 80 degrees, and after Daniel was found about 4:30 p.m. and rushed to the hospital, he was pronounced dead of hyperthermia, also known as heat stroke, authorities said.
No criminal charges were filed.
"They're devastated," Weinstock said of the Slutskys. "In addition to the obvious shock and hurt, they feel completely betrayed" because Shvartsman was a neighbor and friend. Shvartsman's attorney, Michael Mustokoff, said the incident was a tragic accident. "Mrs. Shvartsman has said and expressed her sympathy in every way she knows how," he said.
No court date has been set.
phillycom:http://www.philly.com/philly/news/51459917.html
Buzz up!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
For a fallen firefighter, a plaque of honor
By CHRISTINE OLLEYPhiladelphia Daily News
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
The helmet worn by Craig Vernon's firefighter grandfather has always been a fixture in his father's home.
"We're proud of where we come from," Vernon said.
"My father lost his dad when he was only 12, so his memories of his father were all those of a young child," Vernon said.
"How many 10-year-olds can boast that they spent a Saturday at dad's firehouse and after shining brass were allowed three slides down the brass pole from the dormitory upstairs?" Vernon said of his father's memories of his dad.
Vernon's grandfather, John Vernon, who died while fighting a fire in Pennypack Park, at Woodward Street and Winchester Avenue, in Northeast Philadelphia, was honored with a plaque-dedication ceremony Wednesday.
"He always looked at my grandfather with great admiration and great respect," Craig Vernon said.
Craig's father, also named John, was unable to attend the ceremony.
John Vernon Sr. was called to the scene of a brush fire at an old farm in Pennypack Park on Jan. 3, 1942.
While fighting the fire, he collapsed, and died en route to Nazareth Hospital.
He was survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children.
"Raising three children by herself was a daunting task," Craig Vernon said of his grandmother.
"I could feel the tears in my own eyes even though he was gone long before I came around," Craig Vernon said of the ceremony. "We were deeply touched and we felt deeply blessed to be a part of this."
The hero-plaque program is a joint effort between the Local 22 Philadelphia Fire Fighters Union and attorney James Binns.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a hero plaque should call Binns at 215-275-3000. *
olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
The helmet worn by Craig Vernon's firefighter grandfather has always been a fixture in his father's home.
"We're proud of where we come from," Vernon said.
"My father lost his dad when he was only 12, so his memories of his father were all those of a young child," Vernon said.
"How many 10-year-olds can boast that they spent a Saturday at dad's firehouse and after shining brass were allowed three slides down the brass pole from the dormitory upstairs?" Vernon said of his father's memories of his dad.
Vernon's grandfather, John Vernon, who died while fighting a fire in Pennypack Park, at Woodward Street and Winchester Avenue, in Northeast Philadelphia, was honored with a plaque-dedication ceremony Wednesday.
"He always looked at my grandfather with great admiration and great respect," Craig Vernon said.
Craig's father, also named John, was unable to attend the ceremony.
John Vernon Sr. was called to the scene of a brush fire at an old farm in Pennypack Park on Jan. 3, 1942.
While fighting the fire, he collapsed, and died en route to Nazareth Hospital.
He was survived by his wife, Mary, and their three children.
"Raising three children by herself was a daunting task," Craig Vernon said of his grandmother.
"I could feel the tears in my own eyes even though he was gone long before I came around," Craig Vernon said of the ceremony. "We were deeply touched and we felt deeply blessed to be a part of this."
The hero-plaque program is a joint effort between the Local 22 Philadelphia Fire Fighters Union and attorney James Binns.
Anyone interested in sponsoring a hero plaque should call Binns at 215-275-3000. *
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
