Harrisburg man facing attempted murder charges nabbed in Ridley
RIDLEY TOWNSHIP » A Harrisburg man wanted in Mar yland for the attempted murder of his girlfriend was arrested Wednesday on gun and drug charges, according to a release from Distr ic t Attorney Jack Stollsteimer.
Demont Hodo, 29, was taken into custody in the parking lot of the Home Depot in the Folsom section of the township, where police had set up surveillance based on a tip.
Upon spotting Hodo in his rental car, officers ordered him to exit the vehicle and found a loaded black Taurus G2C 9mm handgun in his waistband, according to the release. Additional rounds of ammunition were also seized, as were baggies suspected to contain fentanyl.
Hodo had an outstanding warrant for his arrest on charges of first and second degree assault and the attempted murder of his g irlf r iend in Maryland on Dec. 13, according to the release. T he girlfriend was pregnant with Hodo’s child at the time of the alleged assault.
“I want to commend all the officers of the Criminal Investigation Division Narcotics Task Force, including Detective Sean Brydges, Detective Jerry Scanlan, Lt. John Hamil and Officers (Brian) Judge and K9 Zork, of the Ridley Township Police Department, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Division, officers of the Chester Police Department, Sharon Hill Police Department, Folcroft police and agents from the Philadelphia Division of the Drug Enforcement Agency and FBI, each of whom made an important contribution to the apprehension of the defendant,” said Stollsteimer. “This arrest exemplifies what can be accomplished through terrific coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies. A dangerous defendant was safely taken off our streets, with no loss of life.”
Hodo has prior felony convictions in 2010 and 2013 and is therefore unable to legally possess a firearm, according to the release.
He is charged with possession of a firearm prohibited, firearms not to be carried without a license, possession of narcotics with intent to deliver, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to online court records.
Hodo was preliminarily arraigned Wednesday before Ma g ist er ia l District Judge Wendy B. Roberts, who set bail at $250,000 cash. He was remanded to the county prison in Concord awaiting a Jan. 21 preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Walter A. Strohl.