Lower Pottsgrove Police investigate burglary

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

LOWER POTTSGROVE — Police are investigating an overnight burglary and are asking for help from the public.
Around 2 a.m. on Thursday, township police arrived at the K-Mart at 2200 E. High Street after a security alarm went off, according to a press release from the department.
When officers arrived, they used a K-9 unit to help secure a perimeter around the store and conduct a search, police said.
The suspect, however, had fled the scene.
After an investigation, police determined the suspect broke into the store and smashed a jewelry case before stealing a large amount of merchandise.
Police are not releasing the total value of the merchandise taken at this time, according to the release.
The suspect was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt, gloves, and a “Scream” style white mask over his face. He was carrying either a pink or red bag along with a small club or a bat.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lower Pottsgrove Police Department at 610-326-1508.
Township police were assisted by officers from Pottstown, Limerick, and Royersford Police departments.

Reading man charged with retail theft

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN — A man with nine previous theft convictions allegedly stole a television from Wal-Mart on March 30.
Joaquin Rivera Jr., 47, of Reading, was arrested after he was seen on a surveillance video allegedly taking a 28-inch Emerson LED television from the store at 233 Shoemaker Road, police said.
Around 7:40 p.m., Rivera entered the store and left approximately 20 minutes later with the television in his cart, police said.
The television, according to police, cost $262.
While officers were speaking with the loss prevention officer on April 3, Rivera was seen in the store, police said.
When an officer went to speak with him, he admitted to being in the store several days earlier. But when Rivera was asked about stealing anything, he allegedly told the officer he only took a few shirts.
From 1999 through 2012, Rivera faced theft charges and jail time in Berks, Lehigh and Montgomery counties, according to court documents.
In 2008, Rivera was convicted on burglary charges in Berks County, according to court paperwork.
For the March 30 incident, Rivera faces one felony count of retail theft and one misdemeanor count of receiving stolen property. He is confined to the Montgomery Count Correctional Facility in lieu of $25,000 bail and is expected to appear in court again on April 17 at 9:45 a.m.

Pottstown man allegedly punches pregnant victim

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN — A Pottstown man was charged with intimidating a witness after the victim allegedly received a threatening text message while waiting to speak with police about a previous incident.
The pregnant victim, according to police, was allegedly assaulted in a domestic dispute incident on March 30 around 7:30 p.m.
During that incident, police said, Christopher Scheetz, 35, allegedly argued with the victim before grabbing her around the throat and punching her approximately four times in her side.
When officers responded to the house in the 1100 block of Queen Street, the victim had red marks and bruises in the area where Scheetz allegedly hit her, police said.
The victim told police that she and Scheetz had been arguing for several days because, according to the victim, Scheetz does not want her to keep the baby.
While speaking with officers that night, the victim said there was also an altercation on March 28, police said.
She told police she had experienced cramping and may have had a miscarriage but, at the time, had not seen a doctor.
During an interview with police on March 30, Scheetz denied the assault and said he would be able to produce witnesses who could prove he did not hurt the victim.
However, on March 31 when the victim went to speak with police, she allegedly received a text message from Scheetz that threatened her and her children if she did not drop the charges.
Scheetz had been arraigned on charges stemming from the previous night’s actions shortly before allegedly sending the text message, police said.
Along with one felony count of intimidating a witness or victim, Scheetz was also charged with several misdemeanor charges of simple assault, making terroristic threatens and harassment, according to court documents.
Scheetz is confined to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of his $22,500 bail. He is expected in front of District Judge Scott T. Palladino on April 17 at 10:15 a.m.

North Coventry Police search for theft suspect

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

NORTH COVENTRY — Police are asking for assistance from the public to find a woman connected to a theft from Giant Food Store.
On March 11, around 5 p.m., police said the victim was paying for groceries at 86 Glocker Way when she left her wallet at a checkout counter.
Footage from the security cameras showed a woman allegedly taking the wallet and leaving the store, police said.
There was approximately $1,200 in the wallet, police said.
Anyone with information should call police at 610-323-8360.

Lancaster man charged after thefts in Limerick

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

LIMERICK — A Lancaster man was charged with multiple felonies after police connected him with items stolen from several cars between March 24 and March 31.
Travis Alan Hanna, 20, is in Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of his $500,000 bail, according to court documents. He was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, and sale of a firearm.
Hanna is accused of stealing more than $1,400 in cash and weapons, according to police.
He also allegedly took navigation units from several of the cars, police said.
On March 24, police began investigating thefts in the first block of Betty Lane, the first block of Roberta Lane and the 100 block of North Reed Road, police said.
During the alleged theft from a Ford Expedition on Betty Lane, Hanna took a .45 caliber Glock 21, police said.
After an investigation and interviews with witnesses, investigators discovered that Hanna allegedly sold the stolen gun to a drug dealer in Lancaster, police said.
Police also found the navigation units were taken to Cash Converters in Pottstown to be sold.
Hanna was given $30 from Cash Converters for the units on March 31, police said.
On April 2, police arrested Zachary Raymond Moser, 19, of Gilbertsville. Police said Moser and several minors were involved in the thefts as well as the alleged sale of the gun.
Hanna, according to police, allegedly gave Moser $40 for driving him to Lancaster to sell the gun on March 25.
Moser was arraigned on April 3 and is confined to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000, according to court documents.
Both men are expected in court again; Hanna on April 17 at 11 a.m. and Moser on April 21 at 9:45 a.m.

Police charge one after indecent exposure in Pottstown

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN — A borough man faces an array of charges after being connected to several incidents over the last few months.
Shaeed Ellington, 29, was charged with institutional vandalism after he allegedly destroyed the ceiling of a holding cell at Pottstown Borough Hall on Jan. 16.
Police said Ellington was in holding cell five around 3:50 a.m. when he was seen on video standing on the toilet and tearing pieces of the ceiling.
When officers went to get Ellington, they noticed pieces of plaster all over the floor and a hole in the ceiling, police said.
Around 3 p.m. on March 27, officers arrived at the intersection of King and York streets after residents saw Ellington running shirtless, police said.
According to responding officers, Ellington allegedly took off his pants and was completely naked, “in full view of the public.”
Drivers on the busy street had to, “stop or take evasive action in order to avoid striking the now naked individual,” police said in the affidavit of probable cause.
Officers determined Ellington was under the influence of PCP, police said.
He was taken into custody and a search uncovered two small bags of crack cocaine, police said.
Ellington was charged with indecent exposure, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and other related charges. He was given an unsecured bail of $10,000.
However, less than a week later, officers arrived at an incident allegedly involving Ellington.
Police were called to a house in the 100 block of E. High Street on April 1 around 9 a.m.
The victim told police, Ellington allegedly assaulted her while she was in her car.
Ellington allegedly grabbed the victim by her hair and tried to drag her out of her car through the window, police said. He then proceeded to jump on the hood of the car and started punching the windshield of the car.
According to police, Ellington allegedly shouted obscenities at the victim.
He was arraigned by District Judge Scott T. Palladino, according to court documents. Ellington posted his $10,000 unsecured bail on April 1.
He is expected in court on April 15 at 9:45 a.m. and May 12 at 12:30 p.m.