Despite admitting he was ‘man in white van’, suspect in alleged Solebury child luring not charged by Bucks County DA

Solebury Township Police circulated this photo of a van similar to that of the suspect during their May manhunt

By Charlie Sahner

A Perkasie man who confessed to Solebury Township Police that he was the operator of a white van involved in an alleged child luring attempt, and who was also questioned on a similar purported incident by a Pennridge Regional Police officer, will not be prosecuted by the Bucks County DA’s Office.

The decision appears to be based on a legal technicality and the results of a polygraph test, according to interviews with law enforcement officials and publicly available information.

On May 13, Solebury Township Police said they received a report of an incident during which a white male in a white van allegedly attempted to convince three boys in the North Pointe development to approach his vehicle so he could “give them a basketball.”

The three boys, aged approximately 10-11, had been playing in a residential driveway when approached, were immediately suspicious, and told their parents.

Four days later, Solebury Township police say they were alerted to a purportedly similar incident that was investigated by a Pennridge Regional Police officer. In that incident, three boys of similar age to the three involved in Solebury were also offered a basketball by the alleged suspect in his van while playing outside their home. The Pennridge officer apparently did not make an arrest, and the Pennridge Regional Police Department did not return a call from the Free Press seeking comment.

Subsequently, one of the boys involved in the Solebury incident was able to identify the alleged suspect in a photo lineup. At that point, according to Detective/Corporal Roy Ferrari of the Solebury Township Police, “The suspect confessed, and said he was a ‘scrapper’, and that he picks through garbage and finds sporting goods, which he offers to children.” He also indicated that “in Philadelphia, his gifts are appreciated,” said Ferrari.

Ferrari told the suspect, “I find your behavior in Solebury to be suspicious and alarming.” Solebury Police requested a charge of misdemeanor in the first degree for attempting to lure a child into a vehicle, they say.

But the Bucks County DA said the suspect’s actions were “not substantial” and that he would not prosecute, said Ferrari, “because when the [Solebury] kids ran away, he threw the basketball after them, although he originally said ‘come and get it’.” Additionally, said Ferrari, the suspect passed a polygraph test ordered by the DA’s office. The usefulness of polygraphs is the subject of some controversy among scientists.

Solebury Police Chief Dominick P. Bellizzie said he requested an explanation of the decision, and in a May 29 letter, the DA said that “he felt that the suspect’s actions didn’t warrant criminal prosecution because he never invited them into the car, and he left the ball behind when the children ran away.”

While Solebury Police were quick to underscore their respect for Bucks County DA David W. Heckler's decision, their frustration level is clearly running high. After an all-out manhunt by veteran Detective Ferrari quickly netted a suspect, the technicality of whether the suspect allegedly said “come over here” or “come inside” seems to have played a large role in the DA’s decision not to pursue charges.

The Bucks County DA’s office did not return phone calls seeking comment.

11-year-old boy allegedly shot with pellet gun by clerk at Guy Stuff store in New Hope

The 11-year-old son a New Hope restaurant owner alleges he was shot in the back by a counter clerk at Guy Stuff in the Four Seasons Mall, 32 S. Main St., at approximately 6:30 p.m. as he attempted to depart the store after being asked to leave.

According to the alleged victim, the purported assailant then stated, “Well, I told you to leave” in response to his scream of pain. The gun appeared to be a spring piston type BB or pellet pistol said the youngster, who also said he was shot at a distance of five feet.

New Hope Police questioned the boy extensively after he fled to his father’s restaurant on South Main Street, then left, saying they were going to pay the store in question a visit. They did not return during the time this reporter was on scene and no arrest was apparent. Police were not able to be reached for comment as of press time.

A Guy Stuff counter person confronted with the allegation refused to comment. Another sharpened a hatchet while making eye contact with this reporter. The store manager, who claimed not to be present during the incident, said of the wounded child, “He is known to be a very big liar.” Store owner Jason Glazier was not immediately available for comment.

Lambertville police blotter: reckless driving, suspended licenses, $500 bottle of wine stolen

 

(Information in police blotters provided by law enforcement officials, and is assumed accurate. All suspects and arrested persons are presumed not guilty unless proven guilty in a Court of Law or until such rights are waived by the accused.)

CASE #14000458 - On January 27, 2014 at 11:13 a.m. Sgt Robert Brown was detailed to Walker's Wine and Spirits for a reported theft. Employee Mark Voorhees reported a male had taken a bottle of wine valued at $500. Investigation is continuing.

CASE #14000494 - On January 29, 2014 at 1:34 p.m. Det Michael Miloszar arrested Kenneth Muzychko, age 32, of Lambertville at his residence on three outstanding warrants totaling $2,503. Muzychko was turned over to Hopewell Township police.

CASE #14000542 - On February 1, 2014 at 12:15 a.m. Ptl. Anthony Memolo stopped Abigayle Temple, age 33, of Mt. Laurel, N.J. on Wilson Street for failure to maintain lane. Temple was subsequently arrested and charged with DWI, Reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, and refusal to submit to a breath test. Temple was released pending a court appearance.

CASE #14000620 - On February 4, 2014 at 5:32 p.m. Ptl Joseph Weber stopped Raymond L. Lacomba, age 55, of Columbia, S.C. on State Highway 179 after a computer checked revealed that Lacomba’s New Jersey driver’s license was suspended. Lacomba  had three active motor vehicle warrants for his arrest totaling $938. Lacomba posted bail and was released. Lacomba was issued a summons for driving while his driving privileges were suspended.

CASE #14000694 - On February 8, 2014 at 4:07 a.m. Ptl Anthony Memolo stopped Ibnmaalik A. Bingham, age 30, of Trenton on State Highway 29 after police received a complaint of an erratic vehicle traveling north on State Highway 29. Bingham was subsequently arrested and charged with DWI, reckless driving, being an unlicensed driver, having an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, and driving while his New Jersey driving privileges were suspended. Bingham wasreleased pending a court appearance.

CASE #14000700 - On February 8, 2014 at 11:50 a.m. Ptl Vincent Albani was detailed to #115 York Street for a report of a burglary. Upon patrol arrival, Jill M. Lonergan, who is a realtor, stated that when she had arrived at the residence, she noticed someone had kicked in the side door causing damage to the door and jam areas. Nothing appeared to be missing from the residence. The residence is owned by Jerry Steever ,who was notified. Investigation to continue.

New Hope Chamber of Commerce effort to ‘combat motorcycle noise’ causes business backlash

By Charlie Sahner

When New Hope Chamber of Commerce President Connie Gering announced a “Rev It Down” campaign last week to “try to combat the motorcycle noise in a way that respects both residents and those motorcyclists who do obey our noise ordinance,” she knew she was wading into contentious waters. After all, noise, and particularly motorcycle noise, has been a hot button issue in New Hope for decades.

But Gering, who also serves as Chairperson of the Borough’s Revitalization Committee, Co-Chair of New Hope for Our Canal, and is a candidate for a seat on New Hope Borough Council in November, says she believes that resident pressure for a quieter town could have resulted in more draconian enforcement measures against motorcyclists, and that the Rev It Down campaign is a good compromise that respects the 97-98% of motorcyclists “who obey our noise ordinance.”

“The campaign was initiated after a Revitalization Committee meeting where residents wanted to return to an era when motorcyclists were being targeted for ticketing,” said Gering. “Our goal with Rev It Down is to deal with the situation in a kinder manner with signs and a message that was designed by a fellow rider.”

Not everyone in New Hope’s business community, however, agrees that lessening motorcycle sound levels should be a high-priority issue for the area’s largest business group.

Joel Roberts, local resident and owner of Mechanic Street Mugs at 10 W. Mechanic St. said, “New Hope is not a quiet little New England town. If you don’t like a little noise, music, cars or people yelling from across the street, you don’t like New Hope.”

Jim Miscisin, owner of Affordable Art in the Four Seasons Mall, agreed, saying, “As a long-time merchant that has been located on both sides of town, I do not believe that motor cycle noise is significant enough to warrant any campaign to reduce it.”

Jeffrey Frydman, local resident and real estate developer went a step further, saying, “The bikers are keeping Main Street alive.”

But a bartender at a Main Street establishment who asked not to be identified because he hadn’t discussed the matter with management, said of the Rev It Down initiative, “What does revving do anyway? I’m in favor of the signs. Nothing against motorcycles…just revving.”

And an employee of a South Main Street retail business, who likewise requested not to be named because he wasn’t authorized to speak on behalf of his employer, said of motorcycles, “They’re annoying as hell, but they should be allowed.”

Two employees of a downtown restaurant disagreed with each other over the Chamber’s action. Said the first, “There’s no need to sit and rev in idle.”

The other, who also asked not to be identified, said, “The Chamber has no conception of helping downtown businesses, in fact, they’re doing everything they can to harass our customers and drive them away.”

Gering defended the Chamber of Commerce initiative, saying “The motorcycle visitors are an important asset to the business community of this town and we welcome them. There are only a small percentage of motorcyclists who choose to rev up their bikes while on our streets and we are asking them to wait until they are leaving town to do so.”

But long-time resident and owner of Mystikal Tymes Eric Lee at 127 S. Main St. said of the “Rev It Down” signs displayed about New Hope streets, “It’s the most ridiculous thing…it’s an oxymoron – you can’t ‘rev down’.”

Carl Glassman, owner of New Hope’s popular Wedgwood Inn, said of motorcyclists, “They are part of the New Hope landscape, and they are a welcome ingredient of the larger New Hope experience.”

Loretta M. Johnson, owner of the Surrender shop at 11 W. Mechanic St., summed up the sentiments of many interviewed for this article, saying, “Part of the character of New Hope is the noise – bikes, trucks, radios, guitars – the noise adds to the town. Once in a while it can be a little too noisy and disruptive to other people, however, there are people coming to town that enjoy the sounds and sights New Hope has to offer. In society today, we should be less judgmental, and certainly this is a town of acceptance of everyone.”

New Hope police shoot North Main Street man

Bullet holes surround front door of wounded man’s apartment (Photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner
New Hope Free Press

New Hope Borough police officers fired upon and wounded Steven Cabules, 46, of North Main Street in New Hope last night around 8 p.m. while attempting to involuntarily commit him to a mental health facility, according to witnesses. They say he was holding a single shot stainless steel barreled rifle when officers confronted him at his front door.

No police officers were injured.

Cabules was shot once and taken to St. Mary Medical Center in Middletown. Hospital officials would not release information about the man’s condition Sunday. Detectives for the Bucks County District Attorney David Heckler, who was not reachable, are investigating the incident. New Hope police have not commented.

One witness near the scene who asked not to be identified said that shortly after New Hope police officers arrived, he heard “two or three shots” then someone yelling “drop your weapon”, and another man saying, “oh my god,” followed by multiple shots. Bullet holes visible at the scene bore numerals running from 12 to 19, and markings seemed to indicate that the police fired from two positions — one about 10 feet away near the doorway of an adjacent apartment, and one from a stairway just below Cabules’ apartment.

According to Cabules’ neighbor Robert Jernigan, 41, the wounded man was under treatment for schizophrenia and bi-polar disorder and hadn’t taken his medication in two weeks. Jernigan said he had recently met Cabules and described him as a “Nice guy, big heart, super-intelligent, generous.” He urged Cabules to seek help as his behavior deteriorated and he became involved in several traffic-related incidents. Cabules was also in the midst of a messy divorce, and was already known to police officials, according to Jernigan.

Jernigan said Cabules was in possession of a .357 Magnum revolver and a single shot rifle with interchangeable barrels, and he warned police the man would most likely be armed when approached. Jernigan had been communicating with Cabules’ mother, and notified New Hope police officials of Cabules’ condition after he had been attacked by Cabules with a fork and knife, and Cabules had also spoken of shooting a friend of Jernigan’s, among others.

Last night, Jernigan accompanied a police officer to Doylestown Hospital, where the officer was given a “302″, or order of involuntary commitment. Jernigan claims he repeatedly warned police that Cabules was unpredictable and that they should be prepared to negotiate. Upon returning to New Hope, the officer, according to Jernigan, said, “I’m going to drop you off at the police station and you can stay there.” Jernigan refused, exited the vehicle, and began walking back to his residence on North Main Street. Jernigan said he heard shots ring out approximately 5-10 minutes later.

Said Jernigan, “I told them what he had, I told them his mental state, I told them when you go in his house he’ll have a gun in his hand, and they swore they’d negotiate. I spent three hours in the hospital with the officer waiting to get the papers so he could be taken in and evaluated and given the medications he needed so he wouldn’t hurt himself or anybody else because he was a good guy and he was worth the time. And they [the police] came here and started shooting.”

The Studio Inn is a two-story rooming house located at 131 N. Main St. in New Hope.

New Hope Police extend Prescription Drug Take-Back program

New Hope, PA Borough Hall (photo: Charlie Sahner)

By Charlie Sahner

The New Hope Police Department will offer another chance for the public to dispose of unused and/or expired prescription drugs this Saturday from 10-2 in the lobby of Borough Hall, located in the former St. Martin of Tours Church at the corner of New and West Mechanic streets.

Experts say that prescription medicines have become an expanding area of drug abuse, with pain killers like Oxycontin leading the way. And, obviously, many commonly prescribed drugs can be hazardous to children who may find them, often having been forgotten and left in the back of a bathroom medicine cabinet.

So, why not simply flush those unused meds right down the toilet?

Bad move; those same experts say chemicals like hormones and antibiotics are winding up in increasing amounts in our water. By contrast, the Prescription Drug Take-Back program utilizes environmentally-responsible methods of drug disposal.

Police stress that participation in the program is completely anonymous. Citizens concerned with privacy can remove identifying labels from bottles, or simply dump the contents into the disposal container provided and take the bottle back.

Said New Hope Police Chief Mike Cummings, "For many kids today, their first drug experience comes from prescriptions left by parents in the home medicine cabinet.  This Prescription Drug Take-Back event is a great way to protect kids and the environment."

Crime Report: burglary in Solebury, auto break-ins in Doylestown

By Charlie Sahner

Solebury Township Police report that there was a forced entry residential burglary on Old Windy Bush Road on Wednesday, Aug. 18 between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m.  The apparent point of entry was a rear exterior door, forced open with a one-inch pry tool, said local authorities.

Police in Solebury are looking for a suspect vehicle described as "a dark green older model Jeep Cherokee occupied by two Hispanic males" that was seen on Old Windy Bush Road on Aug. 17 and 18.  The vehicle and occupants were also spotted on Covered Bridge Road, allegedly looking for a horse farm when confronted by a resident after rapping on the front door and a side window of his home, said Chief of Police Dominick Bellizzie.

Bellizzie advises residents to exercise common sense precautions, like locking doors and making sure to activate alarm systems before leaving home.

Separately, Doylestown Police Chief Stephen White said his township has been "inundated" with auto break-ins for months, with an average 10-15 such incidents per week.

The thieves involved are targeting cellphones, GPS systems, wallets, laptop computers and other small items that might be sold easily to purchase drugs or for other purposes.  The suspects are believed to be in their twenties and living in the area or a neighboring county, according to White.

He advises residents, as cannot be repeated often enough, to lock their vehicles and not leave valuable articles in plain view.

Update: Alleged "Con Woman" Being Investigated by Police in New Hope PA

By Charlie Sahner

An alleged con woman has been operating in New Hope recently and local police are investigating her activities. The alleged suspect bears a strong resemblance to a grifter known in New York City to owe large amounts of money and to have written bad checks and rented apartments without paying. Here in New Hope, several incidences of alleged scamming are being looked into, and at least one alleged victim is a well known local businessman. More to follow on this fast breaking story.

Alleged Financial Scheme in New Hope PA Under Active Investigation

By Charlie Sahner

New Hope Police are actively investigating alleged incidences of confidence fraud involving the writing of bad checks, confirmed Chief Mike Cummings. "Several people in town have been victims," he said this morning. "As the investigation is ongoing, I can't provide further details at this time."

In recent days, rumors have been circulating in New Hope of an alleged large scale "swindle".

More to come as this case unfolds.

A Spectacular Day in New Hope PA

New Hope PA Police Chief Mike Cummings out doing some good community relations work while chatting with Howard Cooperman, owner of Bucks County Gallery of Fine Art.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Sunday, 4:05 p.m.: Traffic gate gets stuck again in down position at New Hope & Ivyland Railroad crossing, Stockton Ave. and W. Ferry St. after train passes.

Auto traffic backs up until a few more daring drivers move around the obstacle. Recent repairs to the track a few hundred feet down involved?

New Hope PA to Crack Down on Hordes of Terrifying Motorcycle Riders

Is cracking down on New Hope, PA visitors that ride motorcycles such a great idea?

Tourist traffic in the Borough is down more than 50%, and discriminating against all bikers, instead of the selfish few, does not seem helpful at first glance to visitors, merchants, or residents.

Many residents moved to New Hope knowing that it's a noisy place. Having more than 25 liquor licensed establishments, live music nearly every night, numerous street events, and summer tourist traffic is a plus to some people, a negative to others, and often a mixed experience for residents.

It's easy to sympathize with residents' noise sensitivities. Citizens certainly have the right to pursue their lives in peace. But so do those who choose to travel on a two-wheeled vehicle rather than a four-wheeled one.

And, frankly, the construction noise in recent years from unfettered real estate development in New Hope has easily exceeded the noise level from any motorcycle-related activities.

New Hope Borough Council has done enough already to harm the underlying economic base of the town. They tax businesses, employees, and residents at a high rate and in recent years went on a spending spree fueled by aggressive ticketing practices and parking meter revenue.

In fact, many parking meters do not appear to function well, and complaints of overcharging are rampant. Police have been known for ticketing vehicles for being merely an inch too far from a curb or over a fading line.

New Hope Borough Council might consider focusing on creating jobs and tolerance, instead of "cracking down" on anyone but themselves for not properly managing New Hope's economy and for making visitors feel unwelcome.

And if you're in New Hope PA and see a car, bike or truck making too much noise idling in traffic, snap a photo with their license plate and we'll post it on the Web and help you complain.