Police Briefs

Theft

• According to reports from the , officers were called to the 600 block of Swede Street on Wednesday, Aug. 31, for an alleged attempted theft. The victim stated that a an invited female guest allegedly tried to steal two cell phones and a desktop computer while the victim was sleeping. The victim claims he chased after the alleged thief and retrieved the phones. The victim states that he was unaware of anything else missing from his residence at the time of the report.
• A woman filed a complaint on Monday, Aug. 29, that her babysitter allegedly stole a ring and then took it to on Main Street where it was sold. Police confirmed from the manager at the store that the ring was purchased. The victim received a victim’s information packet.

Stolen Vehicle Recovered

• Police found A 2000 Honda Civic that was reported stolen at 7 a.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 31, from the 600 block of Chain Street. Police state when they discovered the vehicle that it was still running. The victim retrieved the automobile. No arrest in the theft was made.

Attempted Vehicle Theft

• While on patrol Wednesday, a police officer noticed a 1999 Honda Accord stopped in the middle of the 600 block of Stanbridge Street. Upon further observation, the officer noticed the rear passenger window was broken and the steering column was punched out in what appeared to be an attempt to steal the vehicle. The officer notified the victim, who then moved the car and received a victim’s information packet.

Assault

• Police responded to a report of a fight in progress at the children’s section. According to police reports, two women got in to a fight during a supervised child visit. The victim claims her attacker got angry when the visit was terminated and threw a chair at the victim. The victim complained of pain in her hand from the attack but refused medical treatment. The accused reportedly left the scene before police arrived. Names of the participants involved have been omitted to protect the identity of the child and victim. 

DUI

• While on patrol in the area of Marshall and Kohn streets on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 11:15 p.m., a police officer reportedly observed Gildago Guzman, of the 200 block of West Airy Street, driving with no headlights. The officer was flagged down by another driver who was following Guzman because he allegedly witnessed Guzman hit a parked vehicle and then drive off. When the officer spoke with Guzman, he reportedly observed that the driver had glassy eyes, slurred speech and difficulty answering questions. Guzman allegedly told the officer that he only had two beers to drink. He refused to go to the hospital for a blood alcohol content test and was then taken into custody. According to the police report, Guzman has no record of a driver’s license. In addition, police examined the parked vehicle Guzman allegedly hit on the 500 block of Haws Avenue and documented damage to the vehicle. Guzman was charged with a DUI.

Public Drunkenness

• John Valitski, of the 1400 block of Green Valley Road, was charged with public drunkenness on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Police allegedly found Valitski stumbling and unable to keep himself upright on the 900 block of West Main Street. The officer reported that the accused had lacerations to the mouth and a large lump above his right eye. He was then transported by ambulance to for treatment of his injuries. Valitski was cited for public intoxication and left at the hospital for treatment.

Shots Fired

• Police responded to a call on the morning of Tuesday, Aug. 30, that approximately 15 individuals had witnessed a fight on the 200 block of East Oak Street and that gunshots were fired. According to police, two women were fighting and one male had a gun. Stephen Jefferson, of the 200 block of East Oak Street, who allegedly matched the description relayed to the police by witnesses as the man with the weapon, reportedly refused to comply with commands made by the officers and went into a house while police called for backup and secured the scene. Once police entered the building on the 200 block of East Oak Street, they reportedly discovered Jefferson hiding on the roof. Jefferson was then taken into custody where he allegedly stated on several occasions that he was the one to fire the weapon but that the gun was not his. One person was injured during the incident with a gunshot wound to the leg. The victim was transported to the University of Pennsylvania Hospital. Jefferson was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, a firearms violation and disorderly conduct. Read more about .

Possession

• Quan Swittenburg, of the 400 block of East Cosgrove Street in Philadelphia, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia on Tuesday, Aug. 30. Police were called to on the 300 block of West Marshall Street for alleged drug activity. When police arrived at the scene, they began to question Swittenburg, who matched the description given by the caller. Swittenburg denied having any drugs in his possession, however he allegedly kept patting his pocket after police told him to quit moving his hands. After being searched, police reportedly discovered a plastic bag that contained ten smaller packets of a green, leafy substance that field tested positive for marijuana. In addition, Swittenburg was cited for an outstanding fine and cost warrant of $260. He was arrested and held at the Norristown Police Department.
• Steven Jackson, of the 400 block of West Main Street, was also arrested at Coletti’s Tavern when police allegedly witnessed him holding a blunt wrapper and small amount of marijuana. Police allege that Jackson was highly intoxicated when arrested.
• On Aug. 18, a search warrant was executed on the 100 block of West Airy Street. As police made entry to the residence, Hykeem Boyd allegedly attempted to flee out the rear window but was apprehended. A search of the residence revealed the following items of significance: $1,294 in cash; a sandwich bag containing 54 red and 48 clear bags of crack cocaine; a sandwich bag containing 23 red and four clear bags of crack cocaine; three red and two clear bags of crack cocaine; 42 blue wax paper packets stamped “way to go” containing heroin; an AT&T cell phone; seven additional cell phones; an unlabeled prescription bottle containing 20 Endocet tablets; a loaded pistol with one round in the chamber; two clear bags of marijuana among other items.

Citations

• On Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 2:55 a.m., police responded to an alarm on the 600 block of Kohn Street. The alarm was determined to be false and was the sixth such incident in the last five months. Carmen Aviles was cited for control of alarm devices by mail.
• Alfuquan Taylor, of the 2000 block of Nassau Place, was detained on Tuesday, Aug. 30, due to an active criminal warrant. He was transported to the police station for processing.
• Lore Defrancesco, of the 600 block of DeKalb Street, was cited on Tuesday, Aug. 30 for public drunkenness. Police allege that the accused was staggering on the sidewalk on Marshall and Cherry streets and had glossy eyes, slurred speech and emitted an odor of alcohol. In addition, police discovered Defrancesco had five active fine and cost warrants totaling $1,324. She was transported to the police department and held for arraignment.
• John Chesson, of the 400 block of Arch Street, was cited for possession of an open container in a public place on Aug. 18 at 10:45 a.m.
• Eddie Harris, of the 300 block of East Marshall Street, was cited for possession of an open container in a public place on Aug. 17 at 9:25 p.m.
• Glen Hunter, of the 700 block of Swede Street, was arrested for an active criminal warrant on Tuesday, Aug. 30, at 4:20 p.m. He was transported to the station and held for processing.

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