Police Blotter: Don't Drive Angry

DWI
At approximately 11 p.m. on Dec. 16, an officer on patrol in the 600 block of Haddon Ave. observed a vehicle traveling behind him honking its horn and motioning for him to pull over.

When the officer did so, the operator of the vehicle, identified as Debra Alexander, 49, of Collingswood, began yelling at him. The officer reportedly detected a strong odor of alcohol on her breath, and asked Alexander to exit the vehicle. During the performance of roadside sobriety tests, she reportedly became enraged and refused to continue.

Moreover, police say, she reached into her pocket and consumed a handful of pills in the presence of the officer. As the officer could not determine what they were, an ambulance was dispatched to the location to treat Alexander.

Police say she continued to be combative when emergency personnel arrived, and that she kicked an EMT in the genitals and punched an officer in the head. After a struggle, Alexander was taken into custody and transported to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, where blood and urine samples were taken.

She was charged with two counts of aggravated assault, DWI, resisting arrest, and various motor vehicle offenses. Her vehicle was impounded.

Theft
On Dec. 10, police were dispatched to a business in the 600 block of Haddon Avenue to investigate the reports of a theft. The owner had received an outstanding bill for $262 from Deer Park Water, but had not taken delivery of such.

He was informed by Deer Park that the water had been delivered an address in the 200 block of Evergreen Ave. for several weeks, but that they had been terminated due to non-payment. The victim indicated that a former employee who had access to the corporate credit card lives at that address. He declined to pursue charges at the time, stating that he would seek restitution personally before doing so.

Theft
Between 12 and 1 p.m. on Dec. 15, a new tenant of the Heights of Collingswood "D" Tower was moving belongings in from his car. He was unable to carry a box of stainless steel cookware and left it in the lobby; upon his return, the box was missing. Its contents are valued at $100. Detectives are reviewing video surveillance in an attempt to identify a suspect.

Theft
Between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 13, a green, men’s mountain bicycle was reported as stolen from the tennis courts outside Collingswood High School. The bicycle, valued at $20, was unsecured. Police have no suspects.

Theft
During the overnight hours of Dec. 17, some copper and miscellaneous pieces of metal were stolen from the South State Construction lot on Route 130. No approximate value has been assigned to the materials. The case is currently under investigation.

Identity Theft
Police received a report of identity theft from a victim who resides in the 600 block of Atlantic Ave. She discovered that someone had compromised her TD checking account and wired $460 to a recipient in Africa. The woman was advised to contact the bank, change her account numbers, and to take other precautions to protect herself. Police have no suspects at this time.

Criminal Mischief
Overnight on Dec. 14, an unknown person or persons broke a two-foot tall ornamental concrete planter in the 800 block of Haddon Ave. No suspects were identified, neither did any witnesses observe the incident. The act is currently under investigation.

Outstanding Warrant
At 1 p.m. on Dec. 19, officers on patrol in the 500 block of Harrison Ave. observed a male behaving in a suspicious manner. He provided false information to officers, who later discovered that he Mark Pepe, 38, of Blackwood. Pepe was determined to have been a fugitive of justice wanted in the state of Pennsylvania, and was arrested and housed in the Camden County correctional facility, awaiting extradition.