SANATOGA PA – “Excellent” investigative work by Lower Pottsgrove (PA) Township Police Det. Joseph Campbell was credited Monday (Oct. 5, 2009) by police Chief Michael Shade for “bringing a quick close” to a bomb threat incident that occurred in early September at the Redner’s Warehouse Market, 1300 N. Charlotte St., Pottstown PA.
Redner's Warehouse Market in the North End Shopping Center.
Campbell worked quickly to identify the alleged perpetrator, and in so doing probably “avoided a copy cat syndrome” that often follows such incidents, Shade told the township Board of Commissioners during the first of its two monthly meetings. An arrest was made only five days after the threat occurred.
News reports said a 34-year-old former Redner’s employee had turned himself in to police last month following the Sept. 6 (2009) incident that caused police to evacuate the supermarket and bring in bomb-sniffing dogs. No explosive device was found.
The Boyertown man was charged with making terroristic threats and making threats of weapons of mass destruction, both felonies, as well as with disorderly conduct. His case is now pending in criminal court.
“It was a pretty serious incident” which could have, but did not, result in injuries, Shade said.
The bomb threat arrest was one of 27 made of adults by department officers for a variety of offenses during September (2009), according to Shade’s monthly report. Also during September, police charged a juvenile in a August (2009) robbery in which a handgun was involved. The case ultimately was file in an adult court due to its severity, Shade said; it, too, is pending.
In other statistics from Shade’s September report, department officers:
- Investigated 11 reports of criminal mischief to automobiles;
- Responded to a total of 52 disturbances, 20 of which involved fights or other disputes;
- Assisted in 87 medical emergencies; and
- Made 123 appearances at hearings or in court.
Related (to the Lower Pottsgrove Board of Commissioners’ Oct. 5 meeting):
- Detective Effort Credited In Bomb Threat Arrest
- County EIT Group Meets Oct. 28, Board Learns
- No Plans To Dredge Sanatoga Lake At $500,000
- Award-Winning Officer Pursues Drug Cases
- Lights, Camera … Hero; Top Officer Honored Tonight
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