October 19, 2016

Delaware District Attorney Jack Whelan announced the arrest of a 23-year-old Aston woman, who is facing charges for illegally purchasing two firearms for her boyfriend.

The arrest of Erika Kulp represents the conclusion of a joint investigation by the Delaware County Criminal Investigation Division and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), said a press release from the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.

Kulp is accused of the illegal purchase and transfer of two handguns to an individual not permitted to possess firearms. She is also charged with tampering with public records and criminal conspiracy, all third-degree felonies. If convicted, Kulp faces a five-year minimum mandatory sentence under the Brad Fox Law, the release said.

The Brad Fox law, which went into effect in 2013, was named for a slain police officer in Montgomery County and stiffened penalties for those who buy guns for felons.

According to court records, Kulp, who waived her preliminary hearing, is free after posting 10 percent of her $50,000 bail.

 

 

Delaware County’s SWAT teams are poised to tackle a host of challenges.

On Thursday, Oct. 20, the teams will participate in a training competition that tests the physical, technical and decision-making skills required in critical operations. The goal is to increase performance in a controlled environment, said a press release from the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office.

The teams will face off against each other in multiple obstacle-course challenges, as well as handgun, rifle and sniper shooting in long-range as well as “police officer down” scenarios. The competition will culminate with an awards ceremony, and District Attorney Jack Whelan will present team and individual trophies, the release said.

Sponsored by Videon Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep and Ram of Newtown Square, the Delco SWAT Challenge will begin at 8 a.m. with the awards presentation scheduled for 1 p.m. at the Delaware County Emergency Services Training Center, 1600 Calcon Hook Rd in Sharon Hill.

 

• State police from the Avondale barracks said a New Jersey man was arrested for DUI on Sept. 10 at 12:02 a.m. Police said Reema G. Elghossain, 34, was detained on East Baltimore at Kennett Pike in Kennett Township.

• On Oct. 12, at 8:05 p.m., Kennett Township Police responded to the area of East Baltimore Pike and McFarlan Road for a two-vehicle crash. Police said Aiman Khan, 20, of Kennett Square, was traveling west on East Baltimore Pike when she ran a red light at McFarlan Road, striking the vehicle that was crossing from McFarlan into the Fairfield Inn Hotel. Khan and the passenger in her vehicle were transported to Chester County Hospital for unknown injuries. The other driver was not injured, but both vehicles had to be towed, police said.

• Kennett Township Police responded to the 400 block of Bayard Road for a single- vehicle crash on Oct. 14 at 11:16 a.m. Police said the crash resulted from a road rage incident involving Warren Giza-Sisson, 21, of Chadds Ford. Police said Giza-Sisson struck the bumper of another vehicle and was then unable to navigate a curve in the roadway, crashing into a telephone pole. After speaking with Giza-Sisson, who admitted to using narcotics prior to the crash, police arrested him for driving under the influence of drugs; no injuries were reported.

• On Oct. 16, at 6:24 p.m., Kennett Township Police responded to the 800 block of Burrows Run Road for a disturbance. Upon arrival, the officer spoke with Sherry Lynn Pitts, 41, of Chadds Ford. Pitts, whose vehicle was running, admitted to driving to the location, information witnesses corroborated. While speaking with Pitts, officers detected a strong odor of alcohol, and she was subsequently arrested for DUI, police said.

• State police from the Embreeville barracks responded to the 1600 block of Embreeville Road in Newlin Township for a report of criminal mischief on Saturday, Sept. 24. Police said someone damaged the sign at the KOA campground between midnight and late evening. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-486-6280.

• Efrain Ortiz-Gonzales, 29, of Wilmington, faces charges of receiving stolen property and traffic violations following a July 22 inspection on Route 41 at Starr Road in New Garden Township, said state police from the Avondale barracks. Ortiz-Gonzales allegedly displayed a stolen license plate on an unregistered landscaping trailer.

• Two Delaware men were taken into custody on Oct. 8 at 12:48 a.m. on Cossart Road at Stockford Road in Pennsbury Township, said state police. Dustin R.A. Short, 21, of New Castle, and Benjamin R. Touchton, 23, of Wilmington, were observed in a parked vehicle with a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, police said.

• State police are investigating an incident in which someone damaged a black Ford F150 in the Unionville High School parking lot sometime between 2:20 p.m. on Sept. 28 and 10 p.m. on Sept. 30. Police said paint along the rear fender areas on the driver and passengers sides was scratched. Anyone with information is asked to call the barracks at 610-268-2022.

• A 2011 Ford Mustang driven by Alfred W. Hahn, 50, of Landenberg, was traveling northbound in the right lane on Route 1, south of School House Road in Kennett Township, on Sept. 19 at 7:21 a.m. when he hit a large puddle, was unable to stop, traveled across the left lane, and struck a concrete divider, blocking the left lane. State police said Hahn was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured.

• A 29-year-old Wilmington man was cited for failing to stop at a red light and causing a two-vehicle crash, state police said. Police said Theo R. Page was traveling north in the right lane of Baltimore Pike when he disregarded the traffic light at Woodchuck Way in Kennett Township on Sept. 24 at 5:42 p.m. Police said Page’s 2006 Volvo 360 struck a 2010 Ford Fusion in the intersection, resulting in disabling damage to both vehicles and one minor injury, police said.

• State police said a two-vehicle crash occurred on Route 926, about 50 yards east of Route 82 in East Marlborough Township on Sept. 28, at 7:13 a.m. Kent R. Smith, 58, was cited for being in a non-travel lane as a 2015 Nissan Sentra was turning left from Landhope Farms and was struck by Smith’s Audi A5. Police said no injuries were reported.

• On Friday, Oct. 7, at 9 a.m., New Garden Township police responded to the Magisterial District Court located in the 900 block of West Cypress Street for the report of a subject who possessed drugs. Upon arrival, Jessica Prigg, 28, of West Grove, who was in custody for an unrelated matter, had been searched by court personnel when heroin and a syringe were recovered. Prigg was transported to Chester County Prison on the original charges, pending a return to district court on the drug possession charges, police said.

• State police from the Embreeville barracks are investigating a burglary in the 500 block of Cann Road in West Bradford Township. Police said sometime after midnight on Sept. 27 and Oct. 11, someone broke into a shed and stole a chainsaw. Anyone with information is asked to call the barracks at 610-486-6280.

• On Saturday, Sept. 17, Kennett Square Police arrested a 13-year-old male from Kennett Square for breaking into several vehicles parked in the 500 block of East Cypress Street and the 300 block of Juniper Street between 11:30 and 11:43 p.m. The teen faces charges in the juvenile system that include theft by unlawful taking or disposition, receiving stolen property, and related offenses, police said.

• Kennett Square Police cited Edgar Martinez-Luna, 23, of Newark, De., for disorderly conduct following a traffic stop in the 100 block of Kaolin Road on Tuesday, Sept. 20 at 2:12 a.m.

• Sometime between 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22, and 6 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, Kennett Square Police said a business in the 700 block of West Cypress Street was burglarized. Police said $150 in cash, 33 cartons of various cigarettes, and 20 packs of scratch-off lottery tickets were stolen; an investigation is continuing.

• Kennett Square Police are also investigating a report that someone dumped a salad on a vehicle parked in the 300 block of Dalmatian Lane sometime between 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, and 12:15 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 25.

• Sometime between Sunday, Sept. 18, and Wednesday, Sept. 28, three windows valued at $300 were stolen from a building located in the 400 block of West State Street, said Kennett Square Police, adding that an investigation continues.

• On Thursday, Sept. 29, at 8:01 p.m., Kennett Square Police cited a 15-year-old male from Kennett Square for underage drinking and public drunkenness in the 100 block of Race Street. Police said the teen was transported to the hospital due to his level of intoxication. Two hours later, Kennett Square Police cited a 15-year-old male from Kennett Square for underage drinking in the 700 block of Wayne Avenue before releasing the teen to a parent.

• Sometime between 5:30 and 8:49 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1, the passenger’s side mirror on a vehicle parked in the 100 block of West State Street was broken; due to the location of the vehicle, Kennett Square police said the damage was likely done by someone walking on the sidewalk. An investigation is continuing.

• On Wednesday, Oct. 5, Kennett Square Police received a report of identity theft from a resident of the 200 block of South Union Street. Police said someone used the resident’s information to open three accounts; an investigation is continuing.

• On Thursday, Oct. 6, at 12:52 p.m., Kennett Square Police arrested Gregory Winchester, 18, of Avondale, for possession of marijuana following a traffic stop on West Mulberry Street. Winchester was released to a parent pending a summons from district court, police said.