Police earn commendations for four incidents
It’s been a busy spring and summer for township police.
So police Chief Michael Foltz took the opportunity during Aug. 6’s commissioners meeting, to award some commendations to his officers for their work.
Here is a run-down of the incidents for which the commendations were given:
May 7, Landis Market
About 9:45 a.m., police responded to the Landis Market on High Street in Sanatoga where Officer Scott Burnick found an elderly woman whose purse had been stolen in the parking lot.
After issuing a bulletin for the suspect, Burnick and Detective Sergeant Joe Campbell developed a link between their suspect and the vehicle in which he had escaped.
However, when they approached his home, he drove away and, after a brief pursuit, they called the chase off out of concern for public safety.
But the suspect dumped evidence during the pursuit and with the help of Detective David Kienle, the suspect was arrested.
June 20, Meth lab discovered
At about 3 in the morning on June 20, Sgt. Scott Weidenhammer and Officer David Slothower responded to a report of a methamphetamine lab at Apt. 135 of the Rolling Hills apartment complex on Buchert Road.
They undertook a “knock and talk” procedure by which they simply knocked on the door and speak to the people who answer the door.
They saw enough suspicious activity to ask permission to enter and conduct a search.
Once inside, they encountered a haze and distinct odor identified
as precursors to a methamphetamine manufacturing facility.
They arrested those inside and evacuated the building, calling in the state police to conduct a chemical search.
Ultimately, they seized drugs and six suspects.
June 3, Turkey Hill robbery
Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at about 11:20 p.m. on June 3 at the Turkey Hill convenience store at East High Street and Rupert Road.
There, they found a female clerk who had been shoved aside as a thief stole cigarettes and food items before fleeing the store.
Sgt. Robert Greenwood and Officer Matthew Musselman searched for the suspect, but were unsuccessful.
They then obtained a photograph of the suspect from the store’s security video and Detective Daniel Kienle used facial recognition software the develop a suspect, who later confessed.
July 3, Turkey Hill robbery
One month later to the day, the exact same clerk at the exact same Turkey Hill made the exact same call — she had been robbed — again.
When police arrived they found she had a severe wound to her hand. The clerk had been slashed by a man who was armed with a large knife and demanded cash from the register.
He cut her, took the money and ran off.
Sgt. Timothy Walters arrived and ordered a search, and after viewing the surveillance video, immediately recognized the thief, which quickly led to the man’s arrest.
Both Chief Foltz and the four township commissioners who were at the meeting praised the officers for their professionalism and initiative in solving these crimes quickly.