Police Say Knife-Wielding Drunken Man Faces Charges For Home Invasion

By Pattie Price

Brain Lafferty, 19, of Springfield Pa., waived a hearing, March 1, before Magisterial District Judge Dave Lang on the charges of criminal trespass, simple assault, underage drinking, possessing instruments of crime, false imprisonment, prohibitive offensive weapons, theft by unlawful taking, disorderly conduct, harassment and criminal mischief. In exchange for the waiver the charge of burglary was withdrawn. The charges stem from an incident 3:05a.m., Nov. 26, at a home in the 800 block of Paxon Hollow Road, Marple, Pa.

According to the affidavit, Marple Officers Ray Stiles, John Murrin and Steve Benecke responded to a report of a burglary in progress. The glass storm door was broken and the front door was ajar. They saw Lafferty standing inside the house holding a large knife. Benecke yelled for Lafferty to drop the knife and get on the ground. Sgt. Brandon Graeff arrived and all four officers converged on Lafferty, who did drop the knife and laid on the floor. Lafferty told police that he was the babysitter and that everything was ok.

Stiles said the victim came down the steps and said that she had never seen Lafferty.

The victim’s cell phone and car keys were confiscated from Lafferty’s pocket.

Lafferty had a strong odor of alcohol and a breath test showed a high amount of alcohol in his system.

The complainant said she was awakened by her dogs barking and Lafferty was standing in her doorway holding two knives. She said Lafferty told her to shut up, stay in bed, and don’t move. When Lafferty went downstairs, the woman called 911.

Lafferty is scheduled for a March 29 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

* * *

Mark Devito, 28, of Milmont Park, waived a hearing on the charges of criminal conspiracy and retail theft. In exchange for the waiver, the charges of receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia were withdrawn. The charges stem from an incident at Rite Aid, 2901 Springfield Road.

According to the affidavit, Marple Officer Greg Desimone said the store manager saw Devito and an accomplice conceal store merchandise. Devito then took the merchandise and put it back on the shelf.

Police arrived and took Devito into custody. Confiscated from Devito’s car were 10 packages of Mucinex, two bars of soap, and an additional 18 boxes of Mucinex from the trunk. Devito admitted the merchandise, valued at $613, was stolen.

Devito is scheduled for a March 29 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

* * * 

The charge of harassment was reduced to a summary violation against Matthew Cook, 24, of Media. The charge stems from a domestic altercation 4:18 p.m., Jan. 8, at a home in the 2900 block of Dorman Avenue.

According to the affidavit, Marple Officer Ray Stiles said the victim reported her ex-boyfriend went to her place of work and told her friends he was going to hurt her if she didn’t pay him $2,000.

The victim also reported that Cook said he had naked pictures of her and that he was going to post them on the internet.

Cook is serving time at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility where he is being credited at $40 per day towards his fine and court costs.

* * *

Laura Stephenson, 23, of Philadelphia waived a hearing on the charge of retail theft for an incident 3:34 p.m., Jan. 16, at Old Navy and Walmart, 400 S. State Road. In exchange for the waiver the charge of receiving stolen property was withdrawn.

According to the affidavit, Detective Barry Williams said police responded to a report of a shoplifter in custody at Walmart. Ms. Stephenson concealed merchandise valued at $361.99. When she was apprehended, she also had merchandise valued at $113.76 from Old Navy.

Ms. Stephenson admitted to stealing the items. She is scheduled for a March 29 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

* * *

Andrew McAfee, 30, of Aldan was held for a March 29 arraignment in Common Pleas Court on the charges of theft by unlawful taking or disposition and receiving stolen property. The charges stem from an incident 8:07 a.m., Feb. 14 at a home in the 3000 block of Lovell Avenue.

According to the affidavit, Marple Detective Kurt Lindelow said the victim reported that she hired McAfee to paint her bedroom. On Jan. 23, McAfee measured the bedroom so he could buy the right amount of paint. The following day he wanted to measure the bedroom again. He was in the bedroom for about an hour. After McAfee left, the victim notice her jewelry, valued at $22,565, missing.

* * * 

Charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia were withdrawn against Maureen Dowds, 26, of Marple. The charges stem from an incident 7:44 p.m., Dec. 17, at her home in the 2900 block of Pennview Avenue.

* * *

A warrant was issued for Erin Jones, 18, of Philadelphia when she failed to appear for a hearing Thursday on the charges of retail theft and criminal conspiracy for an incident 3:21 p.m., Jan. 24, at Marshall’s, 400 S. State Road.

Pileggi Reported Using Push Polls Against Howard

In a shocking development,  9th District residents are reportedly being subject to push polls from Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi in which the name of Rogers Howard, the hitherto unknown Tea Party challenger, is used.

Howard is challenging him for the party nomination in the April 24 primary election.
Conventional wisdom is that the opponent’s name not be mentioned until the race gets serious.
It looks like it’s serious.
Pileggi also has submitted this letter to the Delaware County Daily Times, which while not mentioning Howard by name, addresses the issues Howard is raising against him.
Also reports are coming out of Chester County of conflict between party leaders and committeepeople who want to endorse Howard.
Stay tuned.

Today’s Fast Restaurant Review

Just had my first mocha macchiato at the relatively new Crossroads Coffee House at 1270 Township Line Road in Drexel Hill, Pa.

Cheaper and better than Starbucks.
It’s kind of interesting to see a restaurant sharing the same space as a bank.

Craig’s List Sting Results In 2 Arrests And Recovery Of Stolen Cycle

By Pattie Price

Brandon Williams, 20, of Philadelphia waived a hearing, March 1, before Magisterial District Judge Dave Lang on the charges of firearms not to be carried without a license, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy. In exchange for the waiver the charge of criminal use of a communication facility was withdrawn. The charges stem from an incident 3:07 p.m., Dec. 5, at a home in the unit block of Willowbrook Avenue, Marple, Pa.

According to the affidavit, Marple Detective Larry Gerrity said the father of a 15-year-old boy gave his son a Kawasaki motorcycle on Dec. 4. He purchased it used for $750. The following day they discovered the motorcycle had been stolen from their shed.

The father reported the theft to police and then called them again on Dec. 20 when he saw an ad on Craig’s list for a motorcycle that appeared to be his son’s.

Gerrity contacted Williams, who was later identified as the seller of the bike, and they agreed on a price of $800. They made plans to meet at the former Pathmark store on Lawrence Road. Gerrity and Officer Chip Rosen, were wearing plain clothes. 

A pick up truck, driven by Jacon McMillian, 39, of Philadelphia arrived with Williams as his passenger. The men removed the motorcycle from the bed of the truck and they were arrested. The VIN number matched that of the stolen cycle.

When Sgt. Mike Johnson took Williams into custody he saw a handgun in his back pocket. The Ruger, a semi-automatic pistol was loaded and was found to be registered to someone else.

Charges of receiving stolen property and conspiracy were withdrawn against McMillian.

Williams is scheduled for a March 29 arraignment in Common Pleas Court.

Texting Ban Takes Effect March 8

Texting Ban Takes Effect March 8 — The law banning texting while driving takes effect, Thursday, March 8.

The law will prohibit drivers of all ages from using interactive wireless communication devices for the purposes of reading, writing or sending a text message or email while operating a motor vehicle, according to State Rep. Jim Cox (R-129)  Texting while driving will be classified as a primary offense, allowing a law enforcement officer to pull over a driver solely for that offense. Anyone who is found texting while driving will face a $50 fine.

Any driver who reads, selects or enters a phone number or name in an interactive wireless communication device for the purpose of making a phone call will not be in violation of the texting ban.

Interesting Fact Of The Day


1.5 million people competed in two or more triathlons in 2010.

A Homily On Religious Liberty

The Catholic Church is finally starting to understand the amount of loathing those who rule the Democrat Party and our financial and media institutions hold for it.
This is a sermon delivered by Father Sammie Maletta, Feb. 5, at St. John the Evangelist Church in St. John Indiana. It shows he gets it.
Pass it on.
Hat tip Cathy Craddock.

Journalists Fear Lawyer Attacks In India

A story in the March 4 edition of the Times of India expresses concern that journalists in the subcontinent might be intimidated from reporting the news due to attacks by lawyers.

It was not talking about courtroom action.
It was talking about physical attacks.
It apparently has something to do with lawyers watching pornography on cell phones.
The story, which can be found here, was rather confusing.

Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke And True Misogyny

Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke And True Misogyny — Sandra Fluke is a 30-year-old activist who testified before Congress that the Catholic Church should be made to pay for the birth control of the women of Georgetown — which believe it or not is a Catholic school. She said this commodity costs the poor women of Georgetown $1,000 a year.

 
Talk show host Rush Limbaugh has been innocently wondering what kind of a woman would need $1,000 a year for birth control.
 
This has outraged — the word should probably be all caps but for aesthetic reasons I’ll leave it lower case — the usual suspects who have demanded in their tolerant open-minded fashion that Limbaugh be silenced forever.
 
Now ladies, before you start throwing around words like “misogyny” think real hard about this: 
 
Larry Flynt and Al Goldstein are pornographers who have influenced our society far greater than most can imagine. Their publications have featured the vilest and most degrading images of the female sex. They have horribly abused the women in their personal lives, which in Flynt’s case includes his daughter.
 
Whose side would they take in this debate? Limbaugh’s or Ms. Fluke’s?
 
Whose side would Bill “Better Put Some Ice On That” Clinton take? 
 
Do you really want to be on the same side with this type of men?
Rush Limbaugh, Sandra Fluke And True Misogyny

Credit Republicans If Refineries Are Saved

Credit Republicans If Refineries Are Saved — A state cabinet member told the House Appropriations Committee, Feb. 27, that there is a strong likelihood that two of the three Philadelphia area refineries scheduled for shut-down may be saved.

C. Alan Walker, secretary of Department of Commerce and Economic Development, told the legislators that an angel in form of United Refining Co. of Warren, Pa. may be interested in buying the Sunoco ones in Philadelphia and Marcus Hook.
Apparently a lot of work has been going on behind the scenes. Note the work appears to be being done by the Republican Corbett administration.
Hopefully, someone can be found to find save the idled ConocoPhillips plant in Trainer.
It might be bargain. If the administration changes in Washington, relief would be expected from the regulatory burdens largely responsible for its closure that had been imposed by the religious zealots who have taken over the Obama-run EPA.