Police & Fire Blotter

Prison for Man Guilty of Deadly DUI Crash

A 30-year-old Bristol Township man plead guilty to causing the death of two people during a July crash in Falls.

A Bristol Township man plead guilty to homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence of alcohol, involuntary manslaughter and other charges in court on Monday. Matthew A. Carter, 30, was drunk with a blood alcohol level of .22 percent, more than twice the legal limit, when he was involved in a deadly crash that killed two people on Route 13 in Falls Township in July. Judge Wallace Bateman called the 30-year-old “a menace on the roadway” in court, the Bucks County Courier Times reported on Tuesday. Mercer County Corrections Officer Paul Labranche, 46, of Bristol, and his passenger, 45-year-old Confesora Rosario of New York City, were killed after they were ejected from their car during the crash. The two were not wearing seatbeats, …

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Police & Fire Blotter

DUI, Homicide by Vehicle Charges Lodged Against Man

The 23-year-old suspect turned himself in at court on Tuesday in Falls Township.

A 23-year-old Falls Township man was arraigned on charges he drove intoxicated into a tree at the corner of Makefield Road and Woolstone Drive in the township during a January 2012 car crash that claimed the life of his friend. Clad in a striped button up work shirt, durable work pants and black shoes Jerel Wade appeared before District Justice Jan Vislosky Tuesday afternoon on charges of homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, driving under the influence, reckless driving and several other charges. According to an affidavit of probable cause, Wade was found injured behind the wheel of his 2008 gray VW GTI shortly before midnight on Jan. 27, 2012. Unconscious friend Rodney Simmons sat next to him in the passenger seat. Fire and …

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State Police Reports

Two Teens Injured in DUI Crash

State police are charging an 18-year-old male from Trevose with DUI following a crash on I-95 that injured himself and a 17-year-old female passenger.

  The following information was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police Trevose station. Where an arrest is listed, it does not indicate a conviction. For full details from the police reports including names, please click on the attached PDF file. On Sept. 23 at 8:11 p.m., state police responded to a one-vehicle crash on I-95 northbound at milepost 37.9 in Bensalem. Police said a vehicle driven by an 18-year-old male from Trevose was traveling at a high rate of speed in the left lane on I-95 north. The driver lost control, swerving into the left shoulder of the highway. He then attempted to regain control by turning the steering wheel hard to the right, which sent the vehicle across three lanes of traffic and caused it to strike the …

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Newtown Police Blotter

Teens Involved in Fiery Wreck at Tyler State Park [Updated]

Two teenage girls from Levittown were involved in a scary wreck at Tyler State Park in Newtown last week. The driver is suspected of driving drunk.

  Two teenage girls from Levittown were involved in a fiery car wreck at Tyler State Park last week. The girls are suspected of being drunk at the time. The driver, a 19-year-old female, and the lone passenger, a 16-year-old female, appeared intoxicated and gave the emergency workers a hard time in the moments after the crash, police said. The driver failed a breathalyzer test at the scene and was taken to St. Mary Medical Center for further testing, the results of which have not yet be received by police. The passenger of the car suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital by EMTs. When police arrived to the Richboro Road entrance of Tyler State Park at 7:10 p.m. last Monday, officers found the 19-year-old's vehicle flipped on …

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State Police Report DUI Arrests, Harassment Incident

The following information was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police at Trevose. It does not imply conviction.

  Between July 3-4, Trevose troopers investigated the following incidents: On July 3 at 1:39 a.m., state police stopped a vehicle on I-95 southbound at milepost 37.7 in Bensalem. The driver, Nicholas Campbell, 30, of Burlington, N.J., was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance. He was arrested for DUI and faces charges in district court. Trooper Robert Richter investigated the incident. On July 3 at approximately 1:30 a.m., state police responded to Parx Casino for a report of harassment. According to police, a 26-year-old female victim from Doylestown said she was approached by a group of men while playing the slots. One male put his arms around her without permission subjecting her to unwanted touching. The men left …

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Police, PennDOT To Target Drunken Drivers

The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” initiative is set to run through July 8.

  The following information comes from a release from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. State and local police, along with PennDOT, will take part in a national enforcement effort through July 8 targeting motorists who drive under the influence. The “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” enforcement effort will focus on keeping Pennsylvania’s roads safe during the Independence Day travel period. “Many people will celebrate and travel for the Independence Day holiday,” PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch said in a release. “Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs puts your life and the lives of those around you in danger.” “Motorists must understand that alcohol and driving never mix,” said State Police Commissioner Frank …

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Bristol Man Blows Past DUI Checkpoint, Nearly Strikes 5 Officers

A Bristol man faces numerous charges after he blew past a DUI checkpoint at Route 413 in Bristol Township early Sunday morning.

Five police officers were nearly struck when a Bristol man allegedly sped through a sobriety checkpoint while driving under the influence of alcohol, according to phillyburbs.com.   The Pennsylvania State Police said 52-year-old John Connor sped through a DUI check point shortly before 1 a.m. at Route 413 and Rockview Drive in Bristol Township, CBS Philly reported.    Police told CBS Philly Connor refused to stop and led troopers on a pursuit that eventually came to a halt in a park along Snowden Avenue.   Connors faces several charges, including five counts of second-degree misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person, DUI and related offenses. He was arraigned before Bensalem District Judge Joseph Falcone on Sunday morning, …

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Police Make Nine Weekend Arrests

Charges included harassment, retail theft, warrants and DUI.

The following arrest information was provided by the Bensalem Township Police Department. It does not imply conviction. Between June 1-3, Bensalem police made the following arrests: On June 1 at 11:50 a.m., Hamioutie Ram, 51, of the 100 block of Oakmont Drive, Moorestown, NJ, was arrested in the 3400 block of Knights Road and charged with harassment. She will receive a citation. On June 1 at 5:43 p.m., Jenna Rodwic, 21, of Honey Locust Road, Levittown, and Laura Perchy, 21, of Hawk Road, Levittown, were arrested at the Macy’s Department Store, Neshaminy Mall and charged with disorderly conduct. They were issued citations. On June 2 at 8:45 a.m., David Holmes, 45, of the 5000 block of Tulip Street, Philadelphia, was arrested in the 2200 …

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State Police Make Drunk Driving, Drug Arrests

The following arrest information was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police Trevose station. It does not imply conviction.

Between May 30 and June 2, Trevose troopers made the following arrests: On May 30 at 4:25 p.m., state police stopped a vehicle on I-95 southbound at exit 40 in Bristol Township. The driver, Alan Waserstrom, 34, of Philadelphia, was found to be intoxicated and in possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia. He was arrested for DUI and possession. Trooper Lee Nolan investigated the incident. On May 31 at 12:45 p.m., state police stopped a vehicle on I-95 northbound at exit 37.9 in Bensalem. Police searched the vehicle and located several bundles of suspected heroin. The driver, Michael J. Schultz, 32, of Levittown, was arrested for manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance. He was arraigned before Judge Joseph …

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Troopers Report Accidents, DUI Arrests

Accidents included hit & run and texting while driving incidents.

The following information was provided by the Pennsylvania State Police Trevose Station. It does not imply conviction. Between May 20-24, Trevose troopers responded to the following incidents: On May 20 at 3:05 a.m., state police stopped a vehicle on I-95 northbound near Exit 37 in Bensalem. The driver, Rafael J. Catala, 38, of Levittown, was found to be impaired. He faces DUI charges in district court. Trooper Joseph Krut investigated the incident. On May 20 at 5:40 p.m., state police responded to a four-vehicle accident on Route 413 near Winchester Avenue in Langhorne. Police said the crash occurred when traffic was stopped at a red light. Jeffrey T. Mele, 19, of Levittown, was distracted by texting and driving. His vehicle struck the …

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