Police Blotter: DUI, Vandalism and Domestic Incidents and More

Car Window Smashed at Subaru Dealership

On July 25 at 7:30 a.m., responded to the Rafferty Subaru dealership on 4700 West Chester Pike for a reported vandalism incident. Upon arrival, police spoke with the service director who stated that his workers arrived to the dealership that morning to find a window smashed out of one of their customer’s cars. According to the incident report, the driver’s side window was smashed out of a 2004 Subaru Impreza. The cost of the damage was estimated to be around $300.

Police Pull Over Careless Motorist Under the Influence

On July 23 at around 9:42 p.m., police observed an older model of a maroon Ford sedan traveling westbound on West Chester Pike/Route 3 around Bryn Mawr Avenue. Police followed the Ford heading westbound and observed the sedan almost hit the center divide curb then cross over and into the right-hand lane, impending other traffic and nearly striking another vehicle, according to police. Police stopped the vehicle on the 3600 block of West Chester Pike. The driver of the vehicle Edward Harvey, 52, of Philadelphia, was arrested for DUI and for driving on roadways laned for traffic. According to the incident report, police observed his eyes were extremely glassy and his speech was slurred. When asked if he had been drinking, Harvey said no but he did consume four Xanax pills. Police said he failed two sobriety tests and he agreed to have his blood withdrawn for testing. He was transported to Ridddle Memorial Hospital and was sent back to Newtown Police Headquarters.

$500 Mailbox Gets 'Blown Up'

On July 23 at 12:14 p.m., police responded to a home on Harrison Drive in the Harrison Estates development for a reported vandalism incident. Police received a report from the resident that someone had apparently “blew up their mailbox” the night before, according to the incident report. The woman stated that a little after 10 p.m. the night before they heard an explosion but did not think anything of it, said polie. The following morning, the homeowners discovered that the lid of their mailbox was “blown off.” According to police, the mailbox was mounted at the end of their driveway and the hinges appeared to have been "blown completely off its body." The body of the mailbox remained intact however, said police. The debris that remained consisted of two plastic soda bottles and some crumpled aluminum foil. According to police, it appeared the apparatus was commonly known as “The Works” bomb. The mailbox was valued at $500. Police are still investigating this incident.

Intoxicated Wife Claims Husband Strangled Her

On July 22 at 9:04 p.m., Newtown police responded to a residence on Brookmawr Road in Newtown Square for a domestic incident. Upon arrival, the husband told police a minor altercation had ensued. The husband's wife then told police that the man had assaulted her by grabbing her around the neck with both hands causing her to defend herself by pushing him away. According to the report, police observed that the woman appeared to have dark, red marks around her neck. The man denied choking his wife but while speaking to him, police observed the man appeared to have a small blood mark on his shirt collar. Police said the man again denied that this happened during the altercation and stated it had happened earlier in the yard. According to police, the woman wrote a statement describing the incident in which her husband had "lunged at her and grabbed her neck three times trying to contain her and that he strangled her." The woman took a sobriety test and had a blood alcohol content of .024 percent, said police. The woman told police that she was taking Ativan for prescription. The man was arrested and charged with simple assault. He was taken to Media Police Headquarters and stayed overnight until his arraignment.

Change Stolen From Soda Machine

On July 22 at 7:40 a.m., police responded to gas station at 3710 West Chester Pike at the gas staion for a reported theft. Police met with the employee there who reported that sometime overnight the soda machine was broken into and the change was removed. The burglar(s) had apparently used a sharp tool to punch open the lock, said police. Approximately $60 to $70 in coins was taken. Police are still investigating this incident.