Police Briefs

From the Whitpain Township Police:

DUI

• On Dec. 17 at 12:55 a.m., an officer observed a Ford van almost strike a telephone pole on southbound DeKalb Pk in the area of Jolly Rd in Whitpain. The officer stopped the van and when he spoke to the driver, Young Soon Go, 49, of the unit block of Highland Ave in Norristown, he appeared to be intoxicated. He was taken to for blood. Charges including driving under the influence and traffic violations will be filed upon receipt of blood results.  

WARRANT

• On Dec. 15 at 9:28 p.m. Stefan Spence, 21, of the 1100 block of McKinley Street in Philadelphia, was stopped for a traffic violation on Skippack Pike at Second Ave. During the stop it was learned that there was a warrant for Spence from for fraud. He was issued two traffic citations and then taken into custody and transported to West Norriton Township where he was released into their custody.  

RETAIL THEFT

• On Dec. 21 at 7:47 pm, officers were called to Kohl’s deparment store, 1301 Skippack Pike, where Maria Rodriguez-Alvarez, 26, of the 3200 block of East Hayes Road in Norristown, was in custody after she was seen changing the stickers on merchandise and left the store without paying full price. After she checked out, it was determined that she paid $39.35 for merchandise valued at $397.65. She had two small children with her at the time of the theft. She is charged with retail theft and false identification to law enforcement authorities because she initially gave a fake name to the officers.  
• On Dec. 22 at 2:18 pm, officers responded to Giant Food Store, 1760 DeKalb Pike, where Robert Singleton, 32, of the 200 block of Noble Street in Norristown, was in custody for retail theft. Giant employees reported that Singleton had removed stickers from clearance items and placed them on Crest White Strips. Each of the price stickers were between 20 and 36 cents. The value of the five Crest products was $248.03. He was arrested for misdemeanor retail theft by summons.
• On Dec. 27 at 6:56 am, police were called to Kohl’s department store, 1301 Skippack Pike, for a report of a theft of merchandise by an employee. Eric Benjamin, 26, of the 1000 block of Willow Street in Norristown was stopped by store security and found to have a set of knives and a knife block in a back pack and was leaving the store without paying for them. The value of the knife set was $79.99 and he was arrested for summary retail theft. He was cited and released. 
• On Dec. 29 at 7:41 pm, police responded to Kohl’s, 1301 Skippack Pike, for two females in custody for retail theft. Kohl’s loss prevention officer observed the subjects taking clothing and jewelry items from the store and concealing them in bags. They were stopped while trying to leave without paying for the merchandise which had a total valued of $1,339. Jenna Picciano, 21, of the 200 block of Lauman Ave in Norristown, and Kaitlyn Asher, 19, of the 1600 block of Kriebel Mill Road in Collegeville, were both arrested by summons for misdemeanor retail theft, conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

If you have questions about these briefs, contact Norristown Patch Editor James Myers. Read more recent