Bensalem Woman Charged with Homicide in Bristol Motorcycle Crash

A Bensalem woman was charged Wednesday with numerous offenses in connection with a deadly motorcycle crash that happened along Newportville Road.

More than three months after the Newportville Road motorcycle crash that claimed the life of Bristol Township resident John Chester and forever altered the life of his girlfriend, Brianna O’Driscoll, the woman accused of causing the wreck was arrested. Devon Crispo, 26, of Bensalem, turned herself in at the Bristol Township Police Department  Wednesday morning on several serious charges, including homicide by vehicle while under the influence. The fatal accident happened at 7:35 p.m. on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 as Chester rode his red 1993 Harley Davidson motorcycle on Newportville Road, toward Route 13, with O’Driscoll on the back. A 2010 black Acura TSX driven by Crispo stopped at the stop sign and then turned out onto Newportville …

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Police & Fire

Witness Tampering Investigation Launched Against Molester

The district attorney is investigating possible tampering in the case of convicted child molester Walter Meyerle.

District Attorney David Heckler confirmed to media outlets Friday that his office has opened an investigation into possible witness tampering that may have occurred during the summer child sexual abuse trial of Falls Township tattoo artist Walter Meyerle. The Bucks County Courier Times first reported in its Friday print edition that a secret grand jury investigation into the possible tamper was underway. The paper reported that Meyerle’s parents were spotted in the Doylestown courthouse for the grand jury. Heckler told Philly.com Friday that his office was investigating whether the convicted 35-year-old and/or those acting on his behalf did “illegal things to influence the proceedings against him.” The District Attorney’s Office is working…

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Hearings Held for Alleged Car Theft Ring

Operation Wheels of Fortune suspects parade through Bensalem court.

There about 20 suspects in Bensalem District Judge Joseph Falcone’s courtroom on Monday as part of the prosecution of an alleged international car theft ring. According to a PhillyBurbs report, the judge saw many of the defendants snagged in “Operation Wheels of Fortune” recently. In an April press conference, police and prosecutors reported that the operation identified 26 suspects from Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland who have been charged in connection with the theft of at least 57 vehicles, valued at more than $2.3 million – many destined for buyers located overseas.  The cars were stolen from dealerships in the greater Philadelphia area, including Faulkner Toyota in Bensalem and Thompson BMW in Doylestown. Click here for the full …

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Local Inmate Gets $140K for Alleged Beating

Bensalem man claims guards abused him in 2007.

Brian Holzworth, 36, of Bensalem, sued the Bucks County Department of Corrections claiming officers abused him in 2007. His lawsuit was settled out of court for $140,000. According to PhillyBurbs, Holzworth claimed several officers kicked, kneed, punched and sprayed him with pepper spray. The lawsuit said he was denied medical attention in jail and his injuries were later observed by a judge who told court staff to call 911. His injuries included collapsed lungs, a brain hemorrhage, spine fractures and broken ribs. The officers involved claimed they used reasonable force and have not been disciplined, the article stated. Click here for the full story courtesy of PhillyBurbs.

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Whiz Kids

Whiz Kids: Mock Trial Team

The Bensalem High School team had a great season.

Whiz Kids: Mock Trialers School: Bensalem High School Accomplishment: The local team had a great season. At the state competition held March 30 and 31, BHS’s Mock Trial team finished fifth out of 12. Their road to the states included a county win over Holy Ghost Prep and a regional victory over Villa Maria Academy. The school board is scheduled to publically recognize the team for their accomplishments at meeting on Wednesday, April 25 at 7:30 p.m. The team includes: Amelia Ali, Andrew Arcangeli, Samantha Begelman, Jon Flanagan, Shane Flanagan, Rosemary Geraghty, Sara Gormley, Kim Kaelin, Hanna Martin, Boris Moglevich, Alex Mottershead, Anish Shah, Stephen Sklarow, and Alyssa Winsom.  Their sponsors and mentors are high school teachers …

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Harran Disagrees with Supreme Court GPS Ruling

But said it shouldn’t stop Bensalem police from using the technology.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday that police shouldn’t use global positioning system (GPS) technology to track a suspect’s vehicle without a warrant. Bensalem Public Safety Director Fred Harran questioned the ruling, but said it shouldn’t stop the township from pursuing criminals. According a Reuters story, the unanimous ruling was a defeat for the Obama administration, which defended the use of GPS devices without a warrant or a person's knowledge as a legal way to monitor a vehicle on public streets. The justices ruled that prolonged GPS surveillance constituted a search and should require a warrant under the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Harran said he believes the framers of the Constitution would disagree with this …

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Intoxicated Pool Crasher Sentenced for DUI

Michael Nottingham, who crashed a car through a fence and into an above ground swimming pool in June, was sentenced to jail time, fines and parole.

  A Bensalem man who crashed a car through a fence and into an above ground swimming pool in June was recently sentenced for DUI. Michael Nottingham, 22, of Bensalem, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of controlled substance. He was sentenced to confinement of 72 hours-6 months, given credit for time served, immediate parole granted, ordered to pay costs and fine and restitution and compelled to complete alcohol highway safety school, according to the court log on PhillyBurbs. According to a Patch story regarding the incident, homeowner Orlando Santiago said the crash happened approximately 1:30-2 a.m. at his home in the 1900 block of Washington Lane, directly behind the Valley Athletic Association ballpark. Nottingham skidded …

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I-95 Assault Goes to Trial

Iraida Rivera, 29, of Pottstown, was charged with aggravated assault for attacking Ana Rodriguez on Oct. 10 inside and outside a vehicle on I-95. Magisterial Judge Leonard Brown forwarded the case to Doylestown court.

Courts: 34 Recently Sentenced in Bensalem Cases

According to PhillyBurbs, charges included drug possession and distribution, assault, burglary and theft.

Nine from Bucks Company Guilty in CDL License Scam

They helped more than 300 people get fraudulent licenses from license centers in Bensalem and Huntingdon Valley.