Artist Bob Hammer will have his works on display and for sale at Albatwitch Day today.
Artist Bob Hammer to attend Albatwitch Day
Author: SPY
Cash registers, cigarette cartons stolen in rash of burglaries at Columbia businesses
Columbia police are investigating three burglaries reported at two Columbia businesses within the past two days.
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Columbia resident seeks answers from mayor and council on borough crime
Rick Fisher
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Rick Fisher took his message to Columbia Borough Council Monday night: There’s crime in Columbia and something must be done about it.
Fisher, a Columbia resident, told council he was sparked to action when he learned of a 61-year-old man beaten in a wolfpack-style attack in the borough in September. Fisher said he was outraged, but decided to channel his anger into something positive. To that end, he started the Columbia PA Crime Watch Facebook page as a means for Columbians to report local crime. The page is an outgrowth of several meetings he organized in Locust Street Park where citizens gathered to talk about crime, offer ideas, and air grievances. Among the complaints voiced at the first two meetings: police response time, neighborhood drug dealing, surveillance cameras not working, and lack of personnel to monitor them.
Fisher asked Mayor Leo Lutz why recent arrests at an incident in Rotary Park were not made public. Lutz claimed that police reports are sent to the media. “It’s up to the media to take the information from there and print it,” Lutz said. “Every week, we put an arrest report out. It’s up to the media to do what they want to do with it.”[Columbia Spy and Columbia news, views & reviews do not receive weekly police reports from the borough but do report incidents posted on the Columbia Borough Police Department’s Crimewatch page.]
Lutz told Fisher that the borough monitors its 50 cameras. He said footage is recorded, and officers can view cameras in real time in their vehicles. Lutz said that 14 juvenile suspects at the Rotary Park incident were identified from footage and arrested. Lutz also said that the Drug Task Force officer has made four major drug arrests for possession and intent to deliver in the borough, in which one suspect was observed on camera footage. Lutz added that eight youths who blocked Walnut Street recently were also arrested.”The police are obviously doing something,” he said.
Fisher suggested reviving a neighborhood watch program once active in Columbia. He told council that the program can reduce crime by an average of 16%, but added that if residents don’t call the police, the program will not work.
Fisher vowed to return to council every month to see if progress has been made. In the meantime, he hopes to hold meetings at the Columbia Public Library. Over 500 residents have so far joined the Facebook page, which Fisher sees as a hopeful sign. Mayor Lutz promised that he and Police Chief Jack Brommer will work with Fisher and residents and will meet with them when the group becomes formalized. “We all want to see a better and safer Columbia,” Lutz said. “We will assist the group in any way we can.”
West Hempfield man charged with felony drug dealing had heroin, stolen gun at time of arrest
A West Hempfield man is accused of drug dealing following an investigation that involved surveillance of drug sales.
Jordan Stark, 28, was arrested on Oct. 6 in East Donegal Township and had 29.3 grams of heroin, packaging materials, $500 cash and a stolen handgun on him at the time of arrest, according to the Lancaster County District Attorney’s office.
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19-year-old accomplice sentenced in case of Columbia teen who shot at police
A 19-year-old Columbia man was sentenced Friday to 10 years to 20 years in prison for his role in a shooting attack on police officers in the borough last year.
Trenton Nace pleaded no contest to felony charges of conspiracy to murder a law-enforcement officer and two counts of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of reckless endangerment.
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2 events in Columbia on Saturday | Columbia Borough Police Department
There are two events in town that will impact traffic on Saturday 10-14-17.
Between the hours of 11:00AM and 8:30PM the Columbia Historic Preservation Society will be holding an Albatwitch Day event in the 200 blk. of Locust St. The 200 blk. of Locust St. will be closed during this time.
The second event will be between the hours of 2:00PM and 5:30PM. The event is a 5k for the Columbia Life Network. The event will start at Columbia River Park and go north on the Northwest River Trail. Traffic using Rt. 441 between Locust St. and N. 3rd St. should use extreme caution and watch for pedestrians between these intersections.
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https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/weekend-events-0
Dickerson, Gail Lynn – DUI – General Impairment | Columbia Borough Police Department
On 10-11-17 the Columbia Borough Police were called to 890 Lancaster Ave. for a drunkenness in progress complaint. Officers arrived to find a female that appeared intoxicated and also under the influence of a controlled substance. The female, identified as Gail Dickerson, (48) of Parkville, Maryland stated that she had driven from the Baltimore area to Columbia. Dickerson was charged with DUI – General Impairment after refusing to submit to a breath test. Dickerson was arraigned by MDJ Bixler and sent to Lancaster County Prison after failing to make bail.
Case Number:
12447-10-11-17
Arrest Date:
Wednesday, October 11, 2017
Charges:
Source:
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Flerx, Robert Michael Jr. – Statutory Sexual Assault and 2 additional charges | Columbia Borough Police Department
On 10-12-17 Robert Flerx Jr. (23) of Columbia was charged with Statutory Sexual Assault, Corruption of Minors and Unlawful Contact of a Minor after an investigation of an incident that occurred in 2016. Flerx admitted to police that he had sex with a juvenile female. Flerx was arraigned my MDJ Bixler and given $10,000 unsecure bail.
Case Number:
1330-11-02-16
Arrest Date:
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Source:
Albatwitch Day this Saturday, October 14
Police search for Columbia man suspected of destroying ex-girlfriend’s apartment, robbing her
Manheim Township police are searching for a Columbia man suspected of damaging the interior of his ex-girlfriend’s home after entering without her permission during a domestic dispute.
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MANHEIM TOWNSHIP POLICE REPORT:
WANTED PERSON
ISMAEL LOPEZ, JR.
Sex: M
Race: Hispanic
Height: 5’11”
Weight: 145 lbs
Eyes: Hazel
Hair: Brown
Ismael Lopez, Jr., M/22, of Columbia, PA, is wanted for Robbery, Aggravated Assault, Burglary, Criminal Trespass, Theft, Vehicle Theft, and Criminal Mischief. A warrant has been issued for his arrest and he remains a wanted person. Any person knowing Lopez’ whereabouts should call the Manheim Township Police at 717-569-6401 or use our anonymous tip line at 717-569-2816.
Detective Billiter is the investigating officer for Report 2017-LT-04412.
Columbia Spy 