Tag: Berks County Sheriff's Office
Reading Man Who Sexually Abused Autistic Child, Fled Sentencing, Captured In Dominican Republic
A Reading man who sexually abused an autistic child and skipped his sentencing hearing was captured in the Dominican Republic and returned to Berks County, authorities announced Friday, Feb. 7.
Rafael Vendrell, 75, pleaded nolo contendere to two counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault in November 2023 after being accused of sexually abusing an autistic juvenile, according to Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams.
Vendrell was released on bail while awaiting his sentencing on Feb. 14, 2024, but failed to appear in court, prompting a judge to issue a bench warrant, authorities said.
On …
11 Pounds Of Meth, Fentanyl, Guns Seized In Major Reading Drug Bust: DA
Three Reading men were arrested in a major drug bust that turned up 11 pounds of methamphetamine, eight pounds of fentanyl, multiple loaded firearms, and more, authorities said.
Selwyn Alcais-Garica, Rashan Brinkley, and Marcial Cooper are all facing a slew of charges following search warrants executed across Reading, leading to the evidential seizures, the Berks County DA's Office announced Monday, Sept. 16.
Warrants were executed at 1423 Birch st. in Reading;1615 N.10th St. in Reading; 662 Tulpehocken Street in Reading and 501 Emerson Ave. in Laureldale.
Authorities seized …
Woman, 33, Dead In Domestic Incident; Suspect In Custody: Berks DA
A woman is dead and a man faces criminal charges following a "domestic incident" in Berks County Friday morning, prosecutors say.
Harrison Adu Boakye, 46, of Fleetwood was arrested at the scene on July 7, 2023, Berks District Attorney John T. Adams' Office said in a statement.
Fleetwood Borough Police were called to the incident at Boakye's home on Middletown Road around 8:30 a.m., according to the DA.
They arrived at the house to find a 33-year-old woman unresponsive, authorities said. Life-saving aid was rendered by first responders "but failed," and she was pronounced dead, …
Man Attacks Autistic Relative Outside Berks County Walmart Store, Police Say
A man is facing charges after he allegedly attacked his autistic relative outside a Walmart store in Tilden Township (Berks County).
Joshua L. Cassler, 31, punched and attempted to strangle the 21-year-old man after he accidentally backed a vehicle into a parked car and then into a pole in the parking lot of the store on Tilden Ridge Drive around 1:40 p.m. Tuesday, June 21, local police said.
The victim, who has autism and cerebral palsy, got out of the vehicle and ran towards the store, where he was stopped by a relative, later identified as Cassler, of Shoemakersville, Tilden Township pol…
