Man arrested following attempted house burglary

A Christiana man was arrested this week after police said he attempted to break into a home in West Grove.

Austin J. Mull, 27, of Christiana, charged with burglary and related offenses, as well as with institutional vandalism, in connection with the attempted burglary which took place Aug. 8.

At 5:25 a.m., police received a call of a burglary in progress in the in the 100 block of Prospect Avenue, in West Grove Borough. The caller reported seeing a male, wearing a dark hoodie, standing on her enclosed rear porch and heard noises coming from the air conditioner in her kitchen window.

Police arrived on scene in minutes and saw a person fitting the description, standing in a driveway across the street from the caller’s residence. He disappeared momentarily before emerging from an apartment wearing all of the same clothes, except the hoodie and shoes.

Police made contact with the person, later identified as Mull, and after further investigation at the scene, he was taken into custody. While being held at the West Grove substation, Mull urinated through the steel cage door and onto the floor.

Mull was held for arraignment and was initially committed to the Chester County Prison in lieu of posting $25,000 bail.

Police reports from across the region:

West Goshen

DUI » Officers were dispatched to the Microtel Inn and Suites, located at 500 Willowbrook Lane for a disturbance in the parking lot, shortly before 4 a.m. Sept. 14. Police said that an intoxicated woman, identified as Nakisha Lucas of Philadelphia, threw a tire iron through a glass door into that hotel. Prior to officers’ arrival, Lucas fled in a silver Hyundai. Officers located Lucas as she traveled

on the roadway. She was subsequently arrested and charged with DUI and charges related to vandalism at the hotel. She remained in police custody until she was arraigned later that morning.

ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD » Nicole J. Stevens of West Chester was charged with access device fraud, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property in connection with an incident Aug. 31, police said. On Aug. 31, a man called to report his credit card was used fraudulently at the Exxon Gas Station on South High Street in West Goshen. The victim told police he lost his wallet in that are prior to the fraudulent charges. Video surveillance was obtained which showed Stevens and her vehicle. The next day, officers located Stevens and obtained a full confession. Stevens said she used the victim’s credit card, used it, and mailed the wallet to the victim’s address. She was arrested by police and faces charges.

West Chester

BURGLARY » On Monday Sept. 17, at 4:31 p.m., West Chester Police responded to the 100 block of West Miner Street for a report of a burglary. Sometime between noon and 4 p.m., someone entered a third floor apartment and ransacked the entire apartment. The person broke into a safe and stole cash and miscellaneous documents. West Chester Police are asking for help from the community on this crime. Please contact the police if you see or hear anything suspicious, or have any information relating to this investigation.

On Sept. 15, at 5:46 p.m., West Chester Police officers responded to the parking lot of the Giant in the Bradford Plaza for a reported physical domestic in progress. As a result of the response and investigation Theodore Flowers, 58, of West Chester, was arrested for simple assault and harassment. Flowers was remitted to the Chester County Prison, Preliminary Hearing pending.

The West Chester Police Department is currently conducting a theft investigation. On Saturday, Sept. 1, between 12:30 p.m. and 1:15 p.m., the two people entered a building and removed approximately $2,000 from six vending machines. These people seemed to have the right key/tool to open the machines, police said. West Chester Police are looking for assistance

in identifying the two people. Any information please contact the West Chester Police Department Criminal Investigations Division at 610436-1333.

On Sept. 9, at 11:51 a.m., West Chester Police responded to the 600 block of West Gay Street for a report of an accident involving one car into a parked car. Mark Smith, 49, of Kennett Square, was taken into custody for Driving Under the Influence. Smith was released on summons, court pending.

On Sept. 6, the West Chester Police Department received information regarding the possible whereabouts of a fugitive from justice. Police were able to make contact with Brad Jefferis, 45, of West Chester, on Whispering Oaks Drive in East Bradford Township. He was taken into custody and held for arraignment and an extradition hearing for the Nevada Department

of Public Safety.

On Saturday, Sept. 8, at 12:46 a.m., West Chester Police officers responded to 40 East Market Street, the Rams Head Bar and Grill, for the report of a theft inside the establishment. Ismael Lopez-Steele, 32, of West Chester was allegedly seen by an employee of Rams Head Bar and Grill in a private, staff only, secure storage area in the basement placing liquor bottles into his pants. Ismael Lopez-Steele, was found by bar staff with three liquor bottles in his possession. Ismael Lopez-Steele was arrested, processed, and released on summons pending a preliminary hearing.

several traffic offenses, after the Honda he was driving was stopped for a registration violation. The incident occurred on Aug. 11 at 12:34 a.m., in the 900 block of Penn Green Road, in New Garden Township. Upon making contact with Avery, police detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A subsequent search produced several containers and packages containing marijuana, along with related paraphernalia. Avery was taken into custody, processed, and released pending issuance of a summons.

Eric V. Rhoades, Jr., 25, of West Grove was cited for harassment, following an incident that occurred on Aug. 11 at 11:15 a.m., in the 100 block of West Summit Avenue, in West Grove Borough. Rhoades is accused of shoving and pulling the hair of a 27-yearold female during an argument.

was arrested and charged with violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act, as well as with Purchase, Consumption, Possession, or Transportation of Liquor, or Malt, or Brewed Beverages, and a traffic offense, following a traffic stop for a moving violation. The incident occurred on Aug. 8 at 10:57 p.m., at Newark Road and Gap Newport Pike, in New Garden Township. Upon making contact with Posse, police observed an open case of beer in plain view and a query of the vehicle registration showed that Posse was wanted on Bench Warrant. He was taken into custody and a subsequent search of the vehicle and his person produced marijuana and related paraphernalia. He was released to a constable at the scene.

Mason E. Witcher, 18, of Wilmington, Del. was arrested and charged with DUI and related traffic offenses, as well as with violations of the Controlled Substance, Drug, Device, and Cosmetic Act, after the Toyota he was driving was stopped for failing to maintain its lane of travel. The incident occurred on Aug. 10 at 2:54 a.m., in the 1000 block of Newark Road, in New Garden Township. Upon making contact with Witcher, police were met with a cloud of smoke and an overwhelming odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A marijuana cigar was turned over to police by Witcher. Witcher exhibited indications of being under the influence and field sobriety tests confirmed impairment. He was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and was transported to the hospital where he consented to a chemical test of his blood, the results of which are pending lab analysis.

Robert Rineer, 44, of West Grove was arrested for DUI and related traffic offenses, after he was stopped for erratic driving and moving violations. The incident occurred on Aug. 10 at 11:59 a.m., in the 100 block of Starr Road, in New Garden Township. Upon making contact with Rineer, police observed indicators suggesting intoxication and field sobriety tests confirmed impairment. He was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and submitted to a chemical test of his breath, resulting in a B.A.C. of .261 percent. He was processed and later released pending issuance of a summons. Tyler A. MacCrory, 20, of West Grove was arrested and charged with corruption of minors, resisting arrest or other enforcement, harassment, disorderly conduct, and purchase, consumption, possession, or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages, following a call for a disturbance. The incident occurred on Aug. 9 at 12:19 a.m., in the 100 block of West Meadow Drive, in West Grove Borough. The caller reported that she had responded to the residence, after receiving information that MacCrory had supplied alcohol to her juvenile daughter. When the caller arrived, the juvenile refused to get into the car. Police made contact with MacCrory and the juvenile on scene. Both smelled of marijuana and alcohol and exhibited signs of intoxication. The juvenile was sent home with her mother. MacCrory then became disorderly and began yelling obscenities at police. After failing to yield warnings to desist, police attempted to take him into custody. He refused verbal commands and began to flail his arms in an attempt to resist handcuffing. After a short struggle, he was taken into custody. MacCrory was transported to central booking for processing and arraignment. He was released later that day, after posting 10 percent of $10,000 bail. The juvenile was later cited for underage drinking.

Austin Mull