Newtown Police Log: Phone Scams, DUI Arrests

NEWTOWN, PA — The Newtown Police Department recorded the following incidents between Feb. 5 and Feb. 11, 2021.

February 5

Police conducted a traffic stop around 9 p.m. on the Newtown Bypass in the area of Buck Road on the driver of a gray 2018 Land Rover for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicious of driving under the influence. During the arrest, a small amount of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia were discovered and seized as evidence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

February 6

Police conducted a traffic stop around 12:25 a.m. on Richboro Road in the area of West Hanover Street on the driver of a white 2020 Subaru for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicious of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

Police conducted a traffic stop around 4 a.m. on the Newtown Bypass in the area of Lower Silver Lake Road on the operator of a silver 2007 Dodge pickup truck for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

Police were dispatched to check the well being of the driver of a blue 2018 Ford Fusion stopped in the middle of the intersection at South Eagle and West Roads. The driver was slumped over and had an alcoholic beverage in his hand. The driver was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

Police conducted a traffic stop around 11:45 a.m. on the Newtown Bypass in the area of Buck Road on the driver of a black 2020 Nissan Rogue for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

February 7

Police conducted a traffic stop around 2:30 a.m. on Durham Road in the area of Township Line Road on the driver of a black 2018 Cadillac for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

A Newtown Township resident contacted police to report a fraud. He explained that he received unemployment insurance in the mail along with a debit card. He explained that he never requested it and believed it to be fraudulent. A report was filed and the complainant was advised to contact the unemployment office.

February 8

Police conducted a traffic stop around 1:45 a.m. on the Newtown Bypass in the area of Buck Road on the driver of a yellow 2005 Dodge pickup truck for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

A Newtown Township resident contacted police to report an unemployment fraud. The resident received a letter in regards to compensation that was never requested nor received. A report was filed, and the complainant was advised to contact the unemployment office.

February 9

A Newtown Township resident contacted police around 8:45 p.m. to report a scam. The victim had received a phone call around noon from someone who claimed to be the resident’s granddaughter. The scammer even used the granddaughter’s actual name and claimed she was arrested after a car accident and needed help getting bail money. The scammer then put “her attorney” on the phone. The supposed attorney advised that bail was set at $18,000. He explained that $9,500 would ensure the granddaughter’s release and instructed the victim to withdraw the money from her bank account. The victim was then instructed to place the money in an envelope and to provide her address to the scammer so a courier could retrieve the money. A courier, described as a white male approximately in his mid-twenties, collected the envelope at approximately 4:30 pm. The victim did not realize it was a scam until she spoke with her daughter afterward. The investigation is ongoing.

February 10

The Newtown-Makefield Truck Enforcement Unit conducted a commercial vehicle safety detail on Durham Road in the area of Fox Hill Drive in Wrightstown Township. During the detail, eighteen trucks were stopped and inspected, and two trucks were placed out of service. Four citations and six warnings were issued for violations that were found during the detail.

A Wrightstown Township resident contacted police to report an unemployment fraud. The resident was informed that an unemployment claim was fraudulently opened in his name a few days prior. A report was filed, and the complainant was advised to contact the unemployment office.

Police were dispatched at 6:20 p.m. to CVS Pharmacy in Wrightstown Township for the report of an attempted retail theft. Two subjects, a male and female, entered the store together, and the female began loading teeth whitening kits into a bag with the male as her lookout. The store manager confronted them, and they dropped the bag and fled the store before police were called. An investigation is ongoing at this time, and the same subjects are suspected of committing a retail theft at the CVS Pharmacy in Richboro.

Shortly before midnight, police conducted a traffic stop on the Newtown Bypass in the area of Swamp Road on the driver of a blue 2001 Honda Civic for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected the strong odor of burnt marijuana. The driver was unable to satisfactorily perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. During the arrest, a small amount of suspected marijuana was discovered and seized as evidence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

February 11

A Newtown Township resident contacted police to report a fraud. The resident explained that Turbo Tax advised him that an account was opened in his name with his personal information and that there was a fraudulent attempt to file his income tax return. The IRS is investigating the matter.

Police conducted a traffic stop around 10:15 p.m. on Durham Road at South Driver on the driver of a blue 2008 Honda Civic for a vehicle code violation. The officer detected the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage. The driver was unable to satisfactorily perform field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence. Charges are pending blood evidence results.

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