Year: 2016

Info from the DA's office on Columbia murder

Police are investigating the death a Columbia man stabbed late Friday night, Jan. 15, in his home.
Columbia police have charged Ronald Lee Sheetz, 41, with criminal homicide regarding the death of 44-year-old Michael Oberdorff Sr.
At the time of this release, Sheetz is not in custody. He is presumed dangerous, so anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts, call police immediately at 684-2120. Do not try to confront or apprehend him.
Investigators, including Columbia police and Lancaster County detectives, are actively pursuing Sheetz, whose last known address is in Columbia.
Police were dispatched to 322 South Second Street on Friday about 11:35 p.m. for a reported domestic incident in progress.
Police were met by a woman who lived there, reporting that her husband, who was in an upstairs master bedroom, needed help.
In the master bedroom, police found Michael Oberdorff Sr., on the floor with an apparent stab wound to his chest.
Oberdorff Sr. stated to an officer, “Help me! Help me! I’m dying. Ronald stabbed me.”
Oberdorff Sr. died a short time later at Lancaster General Hospital. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
During an interview with police, the woman occupant identified “Ronald” as Ronald Sheetz, a former boyfriend. She told police she saw Sheetz in a physical altercation with her husband.
Columbia police Officer Edgar Mann filed charges, which were approved by Lancaster County Assistant District Attorney Christopher Lechner.
An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.
Sheetz is presumed innocent.
(See CrimeWatch/Twitter for his photo.)

Man charged with stabbing death in Columbia remains at large

Ronald Lee Sheetz
Police are investigating the death of a Columbia man stabbed late Friday night in his home.
Columbia police have charged Ronald Lee Sheetz, 41, with criminal homicide regarding the death of 44-year-old Michael Oberdorff Sr., Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman reported in a press release.
As of 9:45 a.m. Saturday, Sheetz is not in custody. He is presumed dangerous, so anyone who sees him or knows of his whereabouts, call police immediately at 684-2120. Do not try to confront or apprehend him.

State Police helicopter searches river

A State Police helicopter canvassed the Susquehanna River for about an hour this morning during a search for a man reported to have jumped from the Route 30 Bridge Thursday night. Although the search extended from the Route 30 Bridge to the Safe Harbor Dam, no one was located.  Columbia Borough and West Hempfield Police scanned the river from a vantage point at Columbia River Park.

West Hempfield police ask anyone with information to call them at 717-285-5191 or 1-800-957-2677.

UPDATE: Man IDed who reportedly jumped from Rt. 30 Bridge

Police identified Benjamin Jose Nogueras, 20, of Lancaster as the man who would have been driving the vehicle. Officers have been in contact with Nogueras’ family, and attempts to contact him by phone have gone unanswered.

Two major incidents shut down Route 30

Shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday, rescue crews from several departments responded to a report that a man had jumped off the north side of the Route 30 (Wrights Ferry) Bridge on the Lancaster County side. An abandoned car was found along the westbound lane of the bridge, but after a nearly two-hour search of the river, no one was found. Several rescue boats launched from Columbia River Park, where emergency vehicles were staged. 

About 15 minutes later, emergency personnel received a report of a vehicle accident Class 2 on Route 30 West, near the Route 441 bypass.  Two vehicles, a mid-sized SUV and a Toyota sedan, were involved in the accident, in which the sedan sustained severe rear end damage. A man and a woman were transported from the scene by ambulance, and both vehicles were towed by Midway Collision. The accident was later upgraded to Class 1. Westbound traffic was detoured at Prospect Road, but vehicles already lined up behind the scene were delayed several hours.
The two incidents do not appear to be related.

Helen Beekman exhibit at SCCA Jan. 22

The next exhibit at the Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts is the work of Helen Beekman. Helen is originally from San Francisco, California and currently lives and works in New York City and Danbury, Connecticut. She creates traditional bronze sculptures, mixed media works in hay, paint and other media, and collaborative installation works. She was recently a Visiting Artist at the American Academy in Rome.
Opening reception of Helen’s work is on Friday, January 22 from 5-9 p.m. at  224 Locust Street, Columbia, PA. The artist will be present.

Mayor proclaims Catholic schools week in borough

At the January 11 Columbia Borough Council meeting, Mayor Leo Lutz proclaimed January 31 through February 6, 2016 as Catholic Schools Week in the Borough of Columbia. Present were the president and vice-president of student council from Our Lady of the Angels school and teacher Michelle Detz.
Mayor Lutz also made a proclamation celebrating the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday on January 18, 2016.