Thursday, May 29, 2014

Pottstown man charged after two alleged assaults

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN — A man who was being arraigned for an alleged domestic dispute had to be tased after becoming violent, police said.
On the morning of May 27, Joel Irizarry, 40, of Pottstown, allegedly went to Creative Health on Robinson Street where the victim was with a friend, according to police.
The victim, who is two months pregnant, told police that Irizarry began to argue with her at Creative Health so she left.
Around 11:24 a.m. a borough police officer noticed a silver Ford and a motorcycle pulled off to the side of Manatawny Street near Glasgow Street.
Officers followed the vehicles and made contact with the victim in the 400 block of Manatawny Street after Irizarry allegedly rode off on the motorcycle, police said.
After speaking with officers, the victim said she wanted to file a protection from abuse order against Irizarry, police said.
While the victim spoke with police, several officers stopped Irizarry in the parking lot of Manatawny Park where he was arrested, police said.
Then, around 3:30 p.m., District Judge Albert J. Augustine arraigned Irizarry via video. After the arraignment was finished, Irizarry — who was unable to post his $5,000 bail — allegedly punched the screen, police said.
According to police, he allegedly began to resist arrest and fight officers.
“In order to gain control over Irizarry I drew my department issues Taser,” the affidavit of probable said.
The Taser prongs hit Irizarry on the left side of the chest, police said.
Although Irizarry claimed to have “passed out” and not remember the outburst, officers said that “at no time during the incident did (he) lose consciousness.”
As a result of the second alleged incident, Irizarry was issued $25,000 bail bringing the cumulative amount to $30,000 cash, according to court documents.
He faces two felony counts of aggravated assault, one misdemeanor count of simple assault and disorderly conduct. Irizarry is expected in court again on June 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Pottstown High School student arrested, charged after alleged robbery

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN — A Pottstown High School student was arrested Wednesday morning after allegedly using a BB gun in an attempt to rob a man Tuesday night.
Christian Ortiz-Hernandez, 17, of Pottstown, faces one felony count of robbery and several misdemeanor charges in connection with the incident at the corner of North Charlotte and Beech Streets.
Ortiz-Hernandez, according to police, allegedly used a BB gun to try and intimidate a victim into turning over his bicycle around 8:30 p.m.
During their investigation, officers learned the accused approached the victim and pulled a black gun from his waistband before demanding the victim leave his bicycle.
The victim, according to police, “did not react due to the subject’s young appearance.”
But when the victim did not react to the alleged threats by Ortiz-Hernandez, he put the gun away and fled west on Beech Street.
Using the description the victim gave, officers began searching the area and found Ortiz-Hernandez standing with four other people, police said. Ortiz-Hernandez and another boy fled when officers arrived.
According to police, Ortiz-Hernandez ran away from his foster family.
However, when officers responded to the house Wednesday morning, a woman there said Ortiz-Hernandez went to school.
Around 7:45 a.m., officers responded to the Pottstown High School.
At the time of his arrest, Ortiz-Hernandez was not armed.
“There was no disruption to the normal school schedule and no students or staff were placed in danger at any time,” stated the release from the Pottstown School District.
District Judge Scott T. Palladino set $25,000 bail for Ortiz-Hernandez, who is confined to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in lieu of that bail, according to court documents.
He is scheduled to appear again in court on June 5 at 8:15 a.m.

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Man allegedly steals energy drinks, toilet paper from Wal-Mart

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

COLEBROOKDALE — A man with a possible penchant for stealing energy drinks and toilet paper was stopped by police during an alleged theft on May 19.
When officers responded to the Wal-Mart in the 500 block of North Route 100, they were told to wait outside by the loss prevention officer.
While they waited, a man wearing khaki shorts and a black T-shirt walked out of the store pushing a cart that had several containers of energy drinks and a large roll of toilet paper, police said.
Damond Michael Williams, 36, of Hamburg, allegedly stopped pushing the cart and started walking away when the officers approached him, the affidavit of probable cause said.
Williams, according to police, refused to answer simple questions when officers caught up to him in the parking lot.
The loss prevention officer told officers that she received a phone call from another Wal-Mart about a man — who fit Williams’ description — that also allegedly stole energy drinks and toilet paper.
According to police, the approximate value of the energy drinks and toilet paper was $247.77.
Police said this was his "...Mode of operation. He loads a cart with energy drinks then places a large tube of toilet paper on top as if to conceal the energy drinks."
Williams has been previously convicted three times for retail theft.
He was arraigned on May 19 and is currently confined to the Berks County Prison in lieu of $250,000 bail. Williams is expected in front of District Judge Michael G. Hartman on May 28 at 2:45 p.m.

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Limerick man charged after alleged "huffing" incident

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

UPPER PROVIDENCE — Police filed charges against a man after he was allegedly seen huffing fumes from an aerosol can outside a pet store earlier this month.
Richard Chase Rosato, 38, of Limerick, was seen by an employee at the PETCO in the 1800 block of East Ridge Pike leaning against the outside of the building, police said.
When officers arrived at the shop around 12:30 p.m., they saw Rosato, “actively inhaling the fumes from an aerosol can.”
Rosato, who was “largely incoherent” according to police, was bleeding from his nose and had a white, foamy substance coming from his mouth.
While officers were speaking with Rosato they found four compressed gas aerosol cans nearby, police said.
Rosato was charged with several misdemeanors including to smell and inhale toxic substances. He is scheduled to appear in front of District Judge Walter F. Gadzicki Jr. on June 23 at 10:30 a.m.

Pottstown Police look to ID suspects

By Caroline Sweeney
casweeney@pottsmerc.com 

POTTSTOWN - Borough police are asking for help from the public to identify three people they believe are connected to recent alleged thefts.
The three suspects committed several thefts in the late evening hours at a Cumberland Farms and Wal-Mart at the beginning of April. Police did not say what the suspects allegedly stole.
Anyone with information should call Detective Heather Long at 610-970-6575.