Tag:

Berks County, PA

Man Accused Of Raping 2 Girls At PA Home: DA Man Accused Of Raping 2 Girls At PA Home: DA
Man Accused Of Raping 2 Girls At PA Home: DA A 32-year-old man from Berks County has been arrested in connection with the rape of two girls at a home in Reading, one when she was 11 years old, authorities said on Friday, Sept. 6. Janson G. Paz-Ochoa of Shillington was charged with rape, rape of a child, and multiple other offenses, according to the Berks County District Attorney's Office. He was arrested on Aug. 27 and is due to reappear in court on Sept. 13, court records show. Berks County District Attorney’s detectives received a childline referral on April 12 from the state Department of Human Services which reported that a&n…
50 Years After Being Found Frozen In Pennsylvania Cave 'Pinnacle Man' Is Identified 50 Years After Being Found Frozen In Pennsylvania Cave 'Pinnacle Man' Is Identified
50 Years After Being Found Frozen In Pennsylvania Cave 'Pinnacle Man' Is Identified The body of a man found frozen in a Pennsylvania cave nearly 50 years ago has been identified, authorities said. The remains of Nicholas Paul Grubb, 27, of Fort Washington, Montgomery County, were discovered in January 1977 by two Appalachian Trail hikers who had ducked inside the cave to escape foul weather, according to the Berks County Coroner which announced the news last week. Grubb has long been known as the “Pinnacle Man,” named after the mountain peak near where his body was found. An autopsy at the time found no signs of foul play and determined that he died from a drug overdose b…
Motorist, 56, Killed In 2-Car Crash In Berks County: Coroner Motorist, 56, Killed In 2-Car Crash In Berks County: Coroner
Motorist, 56, Killed In 2-Car Crash In Berks County: Coroner A 56-year-old man from Schuylkill County was killed in a two-car crash in Berks County, authorities said. Brian T. Strubhar of Pine Grove Township died in the crash at about 5 p.m. on Thursday,  Aug. 29 at 6890 Penn Ave. in Heidelberg Township, according to Berks County Chief Deputy Coroner George Holmes. Cause and manner of death were pending. Check back for updates.
9-County Retail Theft Ring Busted: PA Attorney General 9-County Retail Theft Ring Busted: PA Attorney General
9-County Retail Theft Ring Busted: PA Attorney General Five people involved in a major organized retail theft operation have been charged with targeting stores across nine counties, authorities said. Marlin Polanco, Malik McDonald, Cartier Hardy, Homario Oldacre, and Lorenzo Walters were charged in Dauphin County with corrupt organizations, organized retail theft, and related crimes, Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry said on Monday, Aug. 26. The total value of stolen goods is estimated to be worth more than $71,000, Henry said. Between February 28 and May 30, the group allegedly stole over-the-counter medications and other health an…
PA Man's Spotted In Child Pornography, Authorities Say PA Man's Spotted In Child Pornography, Authorities Say
PA Man's Spotted In Child Pornography, Authorities Say A 28-year-old man from Reading has been charged with possession of child pornography after sexually explicit images were found on his cellphone, authorities said. Kristopher W. Tanner also was charged with criminal use of a communication facility, corruption of minors, and indecent assault, according to a joint release from the Reading police and Berks County District Attorney. He was identified by investigators who noticed the unique tattoo visible on his right forearm in some of the videos. Additionally, investigators recognized that the background in these digital videos appeared to…
Raw Milk Recall In Lancaster County Due To E. Coli: PA Dept. Of Agriculture Raw Milk Recall In Lancaster County Due To E. Coli: PA Dept. Of Agriculture
Recall: Meadow View Jerseys Milk Tests Positive For E. Coli A raw milk recall has been issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Meadow View Jerseys brand milk bought between Aug. 5-12 with a sell-by date of Aug. 19 should be thrown away immediately, according to the PA Dept. of Agriculture. It was sold in plastic gallon, quart, pint, and plastic and glass half-gallon jugs. Routine pathogen testing showed the milk was contaminated with E. coli, the department explained.  "Shigatoxin-producing E. coli can make people sick with diarrhea, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, sepsis, and other illnesses," the dep…
Tornado Watch Shifts, Now Covers These Counties Across NJ, PA As Debby Creeps In Tornado Watch Shifts, Now Covers These Counties Across NJ, PA As Debby Creeps In
Tornado Watch Shifts, Now Covers These Counties Across NJ, PA As Debby Creeps In The National Weather Service has shifted its tornado watch across New Jersey and Pennsylvania as Hurricane Debby creeps in. In New Jersey, the tornado watch is in effect through 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 and covers Bergen, Essex, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union and Warren counties in North Jersey. In Pennsylvania, the tornado watch is issued in Lehigh, Northampton, Carbon, Monroe, and Bucks counties. The tornado threat for South Jersey has diminished since the initial watch was issued early Friday morning, which has since been canceled. AccuWeather Th…
Teen Struck Dead By Train Crash Into Car: Berks County Coroner Teen Struck Dead By Train Crash Into Car: Berks County Coroner
Teen Struck Dead By Train Crash Into Car: Berks County Coroner Services are on Saturday, Aug. 10 for a 19-year-old man killed when the car he was riding in was struck by a train in Berks County. Meanwhile, family members are raising money for funeral expenses for Jazavier Phelps-Hines, of Reading. Phelps-Hines died on Saturday, Aug. 3 at about 3:40 p.m. when his car was struck by a train in Tilden Township, according to the Berks County Coroner's Office. "We are heartbroken to share that Jazavier Phelps has passed away unexpectedly in a tragic accident," a relative wrote on this GoFundMe page. "He was a beloved son, grandson, nephew and friend. T…
Uncle, Grandparents Locked 6-Year-Old With Dirty Diaper In Room For Days Before Death: Berks DA Uncle, Grandparents Locked 6-Year-Old With Dirty Diaper In Room For Days Before Death: Berks DA
Uncle, Grandparents Locked 6-Year-Old With Dirty Diaper In Room For Days Before Death: Berks DA Authorities in Berks County have charged the grandparents and uncle of a 6-year-old girl who died of dehydration earlier in May, they announced Monday, Aug. 5. The victim was in the care of her grandmother, Jazmine A. Rodriguez, her grandfather, Manuel Rodriguez, Sr., and her uncle, Manuel Rodriguez, Jr., in Reading when she died of dehydration and prolonged exposure to high ambient temperature due to child neglect on May 28, Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams said. All three were charged with Criminal Homicide, Unlawful Restraint/Serious Bodily Injury, Fa…
Road Rage Shooting On Rt 222, Berks County Authorities Say Road Rage Shooting On Rt 222, Berks County Authorities Say
Road Rage Shooting On Rt 222, Berks County Authorities Say A gunman who shot at another driver near the Berkshire Mall on Monday, July 1 is being sought by police.  The road rage incident unfolded on Route 222 in Wyomissing around 12:45 p.m., authorities announced the following day. A driver in a black Honda sedan fired at another vehicle, striking it twice, according to investigators. No one was injured in the shooting.  Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to call Wyomissing Borough police at 610-375-6102 or submit an anonymous tip through the Berks County Crimewatch webpage. 
Berks County Bull Attack Sends Man To Hospital: Troopers Berks County Bull Attack Sends Man To Hospital: Troopers
Berks County Bull Attack Sends Man To Hospital: Troopers State police said a man at a Berks County farm was attacked by a bull on Sunday, June 16.  The man was performing work on a Strausser Road farm in Windsor Township when the bull "aggressively attacked" him, authorities wrote in a release.  The man was injured and taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, while the bull was "dispatched" by the owner, according to troopers. 
Taylor Swift's Jersey Shore Summers, Family Photos Featured In New Museum Exhibit Taylor Swift's Jersey Shore Summers, Family Photos Featured In New Museum Exhibit
Taylor Swift's Jersey Shore Summers, Family Photos Featured In New Museum Exhibit As pop star Taylor Swift spends the summer performing across Europe, a Cape May County museum is showcasing her time vacationing on the Jersey Shore as a girl. The Stone Harbor Museum opened its 2024 Taylor Swift collection, according to a news release on Thursday, June 13. The Berks County, Pennsylvania, native spent summers at her family's vacation home in the borough from 1992 to 2004. Swift sang at the Coffee Talk cafe on 97th Avenue as a teen before her international rise to fame. "We hope that the 2024 Taylor Swift collection at the Stone Harbor Museum will now bring new and old…
Highway Robbery, Assault On Rt 222 In Ephrata: Police Highway Robbery, Assault On Rt 222 In Ephrata: Police
Convict, Michael Ermold Jr., Accused Of Highway Robbery A woman was left with bruises on her face and arms after a convict accosted her vehicle on Route 222 and robbed her, West Earl Township Police announced in a release on Tuesday, June, 11. Michael Eugene Ermold Jr., 57 of Lancaster (who is reportedly experiencing homelessness), is accused of attacking a woman near mile marked 36.8 shortly before 7 p.m. on June 4, the police detailed in a release. The woman reported that he assaulted her inside of her vehicle "took the [her] cash before throwing the purse back into the vehicle [... then] fleeing on foot," according to the release. Office…
Berks Co. Dad Dies Days After York Co. Motorcycle Crash: Police Berks Co. Dad Dies Days After York Co. Motorcycle Crash: Police
Berks Co. Dad Dies Days After York Co. Motorcycle Crash: Police A Berks County dad has died days after a motorcycle crash, the Northern York County Regional Police announced on Wednesday.  Nicholas "Nick" Street, 33 of Mohnton, died at WellSpan York Hospital at 2:05 a.m. on Wednesday, June 4 from injuries he suffered following a motorcycle, the NYCRPD detailed. "He was riding a 2003 Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he struck a bridge," the police stated in the release.  The crash happened on Kitzmiller Road at Pentland Road in Manheim Township on Sunday, June 2, according to the police. Anyone with information about the crash may contact pol…
Pequea Valley High School Student Killed In ATV Rollover Crash Pequea Valley High School Student Killed In ATV Rollover Crash
Tyler Yoder, 18 Of Narvon, Dies After ATV Flips Over On Him An all-terrain vehicle rollover crash has led to the death of a Pequea Valley High School student.  Tyler Yoder, 18 of Narvon previously of Rohrerstown and Lancaster, passed away following the ATV crash in the 5800 block of Northeimer Road in Salisbury Township, according to Pennsylvania State Police. That crash happened around 8:41 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, PSP explained in a release. State police continue to investigate this deadly crash but they have explained that "The victim was operating an all-terrain vehicle in a field when the vehicle flipped. The victim was partially ej…
COLD CASE: Redner's Executive Found Beaten To Death In Berks County COLD CASE: Redner's Executive Found Beaten To Death In Berks County
Cold CASE: Redner's Executive Found Beaten To Death In Berks County Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the cold case murder of a grocery store executive in Berks County.  Gary Redner, executive vice president of Redner's Warehouse Market, was found beaten to death on a neighbor's property on March 9, 2008, according to PSP.  Redner, 55, was last seen leaving Ganley's Pub at 500 Brownsville Road in Sinking Spring around 7 p.m. the night before, troopers say. The bar was only a quarter mile west of his home on the 400 block of Reber’s Bridge Road in Lower Heidelberg.  His car was found parked in his driveway, authorities said.&nb…
Police 'Justified' In Fatal Shooting Of Suicidal Veteran, Dad Of Six: Berks DA Police 'Justified' In Fatal Shooting Of Suicidal Veteran, Dad Of Six: Berks DA
Police 'Justified' In Fatal Shooting Of Suicidal Veteran, Dad Of Six: Berks DA The Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams has ruled that the two officers who shot an Air Force Veteran and dad of six dead were "justified," according to a release on Thursday, April 18. The DA explained that the two officers encountered 50-year-old Damon Scott Stern Sr. when they responded to his home for a call of a suicidal man with a knife in the 400 block of Windsor Street, Reading at 3:37 a.m. on Monday, March 25, 2024. The officers met with the caller on the front porch and the following happened the DA said: "Stern appeared from inside the home and …
Police Shootout: Man Points Loaded Gun At Officers In Berks County Alleyway, DA Says Police Shootout: Man Points Loaded Gun At Officers In Berks County Alleyway, DA Says
Police Shootout: Man Points Loaded Gun At Officers In Berks County Alleyway, DA Says A Berks County gunman is in custody after police say he led police on a foot pursuit and then pointed a gun at them, prompting them to fire their service weapons over the weekend. Laureldale officers were called to the 1400 block of Frush Valley Road three times for a disorderly man around early Sunday, April 14, District Attorney John T. Adams said. Officers eventually found Angel Deleon on Rosedale Avenue south of Margaret Street, Adams said. An officer approached Deleon and told him to stop, but Deleon refused to comply with the officer’s commands and entered an alleyway locate…
6-Month-Old Infant Allegedly Killed By Drunk, High Ephrata Dad: Affidavit 6-Month-Old Infant Allegedly Killed By Drunk, High Ephrata Dad: Affidavit
Timothy Walton Of Ephrata Charged In Infant Son's Death A 30-year-old dad is accused of getting drunk and high before he suffocated his 6-month-old baby boy, according to court documents filed on April 3 and obtained by Daily Voice the following afternoon.  Timothy Ray Walton's infant was found on his mobile home's floor in Ephrata — unresponsive — at 8:10 a.m. on Jan. 19, as detailed by police in the affidavit of probable cause.  The baby boy was rushed to WellSpan Ephrata Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The autopsy conducted on Jan. 22 autopsy determined that the baby died from complications of asphyxia, a…
Pennsylvania Lottery Player Wins $100K In Berks County Pennsylvania Lottery Player Wins $100K In Berks County
Pennsylvania Lottery Player Wins $100K In Berks County For the third time in four days, a Pennsylvania Lottery player in Berks County has won a major prize.  A Powerball player matched five of the six balls pulled in the Monday, April 4 drawing to win $100,000, according to state gaming officials.  South Mountain Beer Distributing at 5104 Penn Avenue in Wernersville will receive a $500 bonus for selling the lucky ticket, Lottery reps said.  The win comes just days after two back-to-back million-dollar prizes were awarded in Reading: one to a Match 6 player at the 4630 Perkiomen Avenue Rite Aid on Friday and the other t…
Cigarette Butt Leads To NJ Suspect's Arrest In 2012 PA Diner Killing: DA Cigarette Butt Leads To NJ Suspect's Arrest In 2012 PA Diner Killing: DA
Cigarette Butt Leads To NJ Suspect's Arrest In 2012 PA Diner Killing: DA The alleged gunman in a deadly 2012 Reading shooting is in police custody in New Jersey, according to Berks County prosecutors.  Vallis L. Slaughter, of Jersey City, is being held in Hudson County pending his extradition to Pennsylvania, said the District Attorney's Office on Monday, March 25.  Investigators believe he killed 34-year-old Julio A. Torres on March 24, 2012. Torres was shot while sitting in his car in the parking lot of the West Reading Diner after a confrontation with suspects, the DA's Office said.  Jomaine Case was eventually convicted in connectio…
PA Doctor Accused Of Diverting 'Hundreds Of Doses' Of Fentanyl PA Doctor Accused Of Diverting 'Hundreds Of Doses' Of Fentanyl
PA Doctor Accused Of Diverting 'Hundreds Of Doses' Of Fentanyl A Luzerne County doctor is charged with 32 felony counts related to diverting narcotics, said the state Attorney General's Office Friday, March 22.  Richard Lemaster Hubbell was arraigned Thursday at a district court, prosecutors said.  Investigators believe Hubbell, while working as an anesthesiologist in Berks and Columbia counties, falsified records to show that patients were given fentanyl and Dilaudid, or hydromorphone.  Detectives said they found hundreds of vials and syringes containing the two opioids at his home in Butler Township, Luzerne County…
Troopers Name NJ Man Shot Dead At Berks Truck Stop Troopers Name NJ Man Shot Dead At Berks Truck Stop
Troopers Name NJ Man Shot Dead At Berks Truck Stop A New Jersey man was shot and killed at an I-78 truck stop in Upper Bern Township early Friday morning, March 22, according to Pennsylvania State Police.  James Alexander Hilton, 40, of Southampton, was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said.  Investigators said Hilton was helping another driver park his truck at Love's Travel Stop around 2:45 a.m. He and another truck driver got into an argument which led to the shooting, troopers said.  The suspect fled the scene in his truck but was pulled over near Exit 40 and arrested at 3:30 a.m., according to state police. Author…
PA Girl Missing For Nearly Two Weeks, Police Say PA Girl Missing For Nearly Two Weeks, Police Say
PA Girl Missing For Nearly Two Weeks, Police Say Authorities in Berks County are looking for a missing teenager.  Melodee Deronette, 16, was last seen around noon on Saturday, March 9, on Cheltenham Drive in Wyomissing, borough police say.  She may be at special risk of harm or injury, authorities said.  Anyone with information should call 911 or Wyomissing police at 610-375-6102.  
Pair Caught In Berks County Human Trafficking Sting, Police Say Pair Caught In Berks County Human Trafficking Sting, Police Say
Pair Caught In Berks County Human Trafficking Sting, Police Say Two men were arrested last month as part of a police sting on human trafficking in Berks County, authorities say.  The District Attorney’s Human Trafficking Task Force posted phony listings on websites "commonly used for sexual advertisements," Spring Township police said in a release.  On Jan. 29, suspects responded to the ads and agreed to pay for sex with 14- and 15-year-olds, authorities said.  Spring police announced two arrests in connection with the sting: James Edward Moon, 67, of Sinking Spring, was charged with IDSI of a person under 16, statutory sexual assault,…
Dog Shot With BB Gun In Berks County: PSP Dog Shot With BB Gun In Berks County: PSP
Dog Shot With BB Gun In Berks County: PSP State police are investigating a case of animal cruelty in Berks County.  Someone shot a 4-year-old Labrador retriever mix with a BB gun, troopers said. X-ray imaging showed the dog was hit in the front-left section of its body, according to police.  Authorities said it happened sometime between Jan. 25 and Feb. 7 on the 400 block of Steven Drive in Windsor Township.  Anyone with information is being asked to call troopers in Hamburg at 610-562-6885 or text "ALERTBERKS" to 847411 to submit an anonymous tip. Tipsters could be eligible for a cash reward. 
19-Year-Old Dies After Berks County Crash: Coroner (UPDATED) 19-Year-Old Dies After Berks County Crash: Coroner (UPDATED)
19-Year-Old Dies After Berks County Crash: Coroner (Updated) A teen who was badly hurt in a crash on Interstate 78 in Berks County last week has died from his injuries, the Lehigh County Coroner's Office says.  Caden Hummel, 19, was headed east in Greenwich Township when he lost control of his Honda Civic and hit the concrete median on Tuesday morning, Jan. 30, according to a state police report.  After coming to a rest in the left lane, his car was rear-ended by an eastbound Cadillac, and both drivers were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, troopers said.  Hummel, of Leesport, died from a head injury on Sunday afternoon, Fe…
Skull Found In PA Pond Was That Of 2004 Attempted Murder Suspect, Officials Say Skull Found In PA Pond Was That Of 2004 Attempted Murder Suspect, Officials Say
Skull Found In PA Pond Was That Of 2004 Attempted Murder Suspect, Officials Say A human skull discovered in an Amity Township pond has been identified as belonging to a missing attempted murder suspect, Berks County prosecutors say.  The skull was found by a child in a body of water near Pine Lane in April 2022, the District Attorney's Office wrote in a release Wednesday, Jan. 31. Two follow-up searches of the pond turned up no other human remains, authorities said.  Investigators believed the skull was that of Roger Hart, a former Pottstown resident who went missing in 2004 after he was charged with trying to kill his wife at their home. Hart fled the s…
Undercover Bust: 5 People Seeking Sex With Teens Met By Detectives In Berks County, DA Says Undercover Bust: 5 People Seeking Sex With Teens Met By Detectives In Berks County, DA Says
Undercover Bust: 5 People Seeking Sex With Teens Met By Detectives In Berks County, DA Says Five people seeking sex with teens have been arrested in an undercover Berks County sting, authorities said. All five individuals responded to an ad, posted on Monday, Jan. 19 by detectives, offering sex with 14- and 15-year-old juveniles at various locations in Berks County, the county district attorney's office announced. The individuals agreed to meet up and have sex with the "teens," but instead were met by detectives and promptly arrested, District Attorney John T. Adams said. The following arrests were made, according to Adams: Richard Keene, 70, of Reading, charged with Traff…
$150K Powerball Ticket Sold In Reading $150K Powerball Ticket Sold In Reading
$150K Powerball Ticket Sold In Reading A Turkey Hill shopper in Reading got six figures richer over the weekend playing Powerball, according to the Pennsylvania Lottery.  Officials said the lucky player matched four of the five white balls pulled plus the red Powerball to win $150,000 in the Saturday, Jan. 20 drawing. The Turkey Hill at 2001 Kutztown Road is slated to receive a $500 bonus check for vending the winning ticket.  It's the first Pennsylvania Lottery winner of the year for Berks County, according to the state website.  The winner is not known until they step forward to claim their prize and …
Snow Emergencies Declared Across PA Ahead Of Storm Snow Emergencies Declared Across PA Ahead Of Storm
Snow Emergencies Declared Across PA Ahead Of Storm Officials are advising residents across southeastern and central Pennsylvania to take caution ahead of the snowstorm predicted for Friday, Jan. 19, according to National Weather Service meteorologists.  Chester, Delaware, Philadelphia, and parts of lower Bucks and Montgomery counties are under a winter storm warning as of 5 p.m. Thursday. In Adams, Berks, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Northampton, and upper Bucks and Montgomery counties, a winter weather advisory is in place.  NWS's Mount Holly, New Jersey station says snow will begin to fall around 4 to 7 a.m. …