DUI

• According to reports from the Norristown Police Department, Ricardo Ibanez, of 38 E. Chestnut St., was observed driving a 2001 silver PT Cruiser without its lights on at West Main and Noble streets Friday, July 22, at 2:32 a.m. Police said officers conducted a traffic stop at West Main and Stanbridge streets, but as police exited their vehicle, Ibanez drove away from the scene. Police reported Ibanez was stopped again at West Main Street and Haws Avenue, when police smelled a strong odor of alcohol near Ibanez and found Ibanez’s eyes to be bloodshot and his speech slurred. Police said the defendant refused a blood test and was arrested. It was later found that Ibanez does not have a valid driver’s license, police reported.
• Derrick Jones, of 513 Astor St., was found unconscious in his 1996 Cadillac Deville at the intersection of Dekalb and East Main streets Sunday, July 24, at approximately 5 a.m., police said. Police reported the vehicle was in gear when officers arrived on the scene. Police said officers put the vehicle into park and then woke Jones, who smelled strongly of alcohol. Jones submitted to chemical blood testing after his arrest and was later found to have a suspended license, police reported.
• Police reported Salvador Sanchez, of Philadelphia, was arrested Friday, July 22, at 2:40 a.m. in the 400 block of East Oak Street after he admitted to hitting a fence with his car and driving away from the scene. Police said officers responded to East Oak and Walnut streets for a report of a hit and run when they found Sanchez on foot in the 400 block of Oak Street, unsteady on his feet and smelling of alcohol. Police said Sanchez also had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Police reported Sanchez told officers he did not see the stop sign at Walnut and East Oak streets and failed to stop, then drove across Oak, over a curb and into a fence, disabling his 1998 black Sebring. Police said the vehicle was found nearby with damage to the front end and a flat tire. Police reported Sanchez submitted to a blood test and, after his arrest, was found to have a suspended license.

Possession

• Police reported officers obtained a warrant for a 1996 Dodge Intrepid and searched the vehicle Friday, July 22, at 8:30 p.m. in the 500 block of Kohn Street. Officers reportedly found heroin packaged in nine red bags with purple wax paper and printed labels, 32 orange baggies containing cocaine and three clear baggies containing marijuana, among other items. Police said the car is registered to Kareem Grady, of no known address. Grady was taken into custody.
• Police reported that on Friday, July 22, at 1:25 p.m., officers were in the area of Willow and Spruce streets conducting an investigation when they saw D’Armond Pierce, of 1304 Arch St., whom they knew to have an active fine and cost warrant. Police said officers approached Pierce, instructing him to stop and show his hands, but the defendant insisted his name was not Pierce and continued evading police. Police said Pierce reached into the front of his pants and, believing he was reaching for a weapon, an officer approached him from behind and attempted to handcuff him. Police reported Pierce physically resisted arrest. A clear sandwich bag containing four green Ziplock packets, all containing suspected marijuana, was found on Pierce’s person upon his arrest search, police said.
• Police reported that Stephen Kovach, of 530 Church St., was arrested on Sunday, July 24, at 9:31 a.m. in the Norristown Transportation Center SEPTA Parking Lot at DeKalb and Lafayette streets after police searched his person on premise of report of suspicious activity. Officers reportedly found a syringe and 20 baggies of suspected crack cocaine and heroin in the defendant’s sock. Police said a small plastic bag containing a white powdery substance in a pack of cigarettes and $312 cash in Kovach’s shoes were later found and seized.

Armed robbery

• Ronald Smith, of 1309 Arch St., was arrested Saturday, July 23, at 11:33 p.m. after being positively identified as the suspect for an armed robbery at 1106 Swede St., police reported.

If you have questions about these briefs, contact Norristown Patch Editor James Myers. Read more recent crime reports here.