Columbia Spy

The Columbia Borough Police Department needs your help to identify the robbery suspect in the picture. 

On Friday, 6/6/25, at approximately 10:08 pm, two suspects entered and attempted to rob a store in the 200 block of Locust Street. Both subjects were wearing black masks and black “hoodies”. 

Suspect #1 was a light-skinned male, possibly a juvenile, who was wearing gray capri-style pants, a black hoodie with a female figure on the front, no shoes, and a black face mask.

Suspect #2 is a medium-skinned male wearing black sweatpants with a ride stripe down each side, a black hoodie, and a black face mask. 

If you recognize the male in the photo, please contact the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735 or submit a tip on CrimeWatch at https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd

Location 200 BLOCK OF LOCUST STREET Columbia, PA 17512 

Date Jun 6, 2025 

Incident Type Robbery

Reference ID CB-25-02415/2506008167 

Case Status Current 

Case Type Criminal Case 

Region Northeastern 

Created Jun 10th, 2025

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/columbia-borough-police-need-your-help-identify-attempted-robbery-suspect

The agenda shown above is a revised agenda but is not listed as such on the borough website. The original agenda is shown below. 

The meeting packet is HERE.

Original agenda

A Juneteenth BBQ Celebration will be held on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Lancaster Distilleries in Columbia from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The celebration, hosted by Brad Chambers and Columbia Forward Together, will feature live music, food, games, and more.

“We are excited to be hosting Columbia’s Juneteenth BBQ Celebration at the Lancaster Distilleries in Columbia,” said Columbia Resident and Event Host Brad Chambers. “This free, family-friendly event gives our residents an opportunity to not only celebrate black culture, community, and music, but an important milestone in history as well. Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States and gives our entire community a chance to learn more about African American history in America.”

Columbia’s Juneteenth BBQ Celebration will feature performances by the band MAMA TRIED and include guest speakers Mekkai Williams, Lancaster City Councilman Ahmed Ahmed, and State Representative Izzy Smith-Wade-El. The celebration will also showcase some of Columbia’s local business, food trucks including Piper Belle’s BBQ and Spanish Island Foods, and resources from local organizations across the county. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged and will support advocacy for communities around Columbia and Lancaster. The event will be held rain or shine.

JACK PANYARD | LNP Staff Writer

A Columbia man will spend up to 20 years in state prison after being sentenced Monday for sexually assaulting a minor he gave marijuana to in 2023.

Robert Fink Jr., 44, pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor and six other charges after police said he assaulted a 13-year-old girl in his home in September 2023.

Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn sentenced Fink to 10 to 20 years in prison as part of a plea deal. Fink, his attorney Rian Thompson and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo did not give statements at the hearing.

A group of family members for the girl sat in court for the hearing. None of them gave a statement.

Police say the girl was visiting Fink’s home on the evening of Sept. 9, 2023, where he gave her marijuana and began sexually assaulting the girl, ignoring her demands to stop.

Investigators found Fink’s DNA on the girl and charged him in November 2024.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-man-sentenced-up-to-20-years-in-prison-for-sexually-assaulting-a-minor/article_846e9a91-6928-48e4-8478-f1835058722e.html

The estate of James J. Janiszewski conveyed 905 Spruce St. to Precision Home Builders for $132,500.

Tracy L. Feulner conveyed 137 Bethel St. to Abraham D. Keene for $165,000.

Alexander Ruoff conveyed 348 S. Third St. to Jaxon R. Smith for $130,000.

Valley View Capital LLC conveyed 638 Fairview Ave. to Louis Materia for $182,500.

 This week’s photos of Columbia 

Click on photos to see larger, sharper images. 

June is Pride Month, but you won’t hear a proclamation from the mayor. 

Love is Love at Lancaster Distilleries 

An upside down U.S. flag can be a symbol of distress or protest or both.

Speaking of flags, there’s a flag frenzy on Bridge Street.

It’s always wise to have a backup.

Tape and wire

There’s a conduit on the side of the bridge. 

It appears to lead from these new panel boxes.

Enjoying the river

Purple pansy

Recycle the Big 4.

Sticker shock

Cryptic graffiti 

Constable

On Wright Street

An aptly named cover 

The yard has reached its limit, obviously. 

This time, the sign is a little more stern. 

Here’s another warning.

Two satisfied customers 

A lost Amazon driver blocking the road at Plane & Franklin after sliding through the Plane Street “tunnel”

An old-fashioned hose reel at Tollbooth 

Obviously a vent

Water beds?

Inscription on one of the bridge plaza cannons

The lights are on again. 

Reading material at the bus stop

What’s coming to the 1100 block of Lancaster Avenue?

The area is zoned Highway Commercial. 

Piles of ties on Heritage Drive 

The former Poplar Street School 

Only rain in the drain

The crane returned to the museum. 

Pleading his case

ASC wants you!

Public Works 

Watching the world go by

None “to” small

They’re back!

The former McGinness Airport site

TRAVIS MUELLER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, June 3.

What happened: Council quelled rumors that the borough is negotiating a partnership or sale of the former McGinness Airport site with a local developer, after resident Frank Doutrich inquired about it. Resident Sharon Lintner also said Mayor Leo Lutz alluded to a possible public-private partnership during a previous meeting.

Possible interest: Council President Heather Zink denied those rumors. She stated that developers may be showing interest, but no agreements are in place and the borough must resolve zoning issues first. She also said the borough’s intention is to eventually sell the property, so they would not be interested in entering a partnership. However, council member Todd Burgard said the borough wouldn’t rule anything out in the future.

Columbia Borough Council had considered employing this development plan for the McGinness Innovation Park before deciding to “pivot.”

Quotable: “To (Doutrich’s) point, anything is possible. We were going to develop it (the McGinness site) into an innovation park and had to pivot. It might require another pivot,” Burgard said. “That’s business.”

https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/post/preliminary-car-show-information-06-21-25

Conflicting statements from Columbia Borough officials have raised questions about the borough’s policy on banning former employees from borough property.

The issue was briefly discussed at the May 27, 2025 borough council meeting, when resident Sharon Lintner asked whether former Finance Manager Michelle Jenkins had been banned from borough property after her termination, similar to the action taken against former Market House Manager Chris Vera earlier this year. Council President Heather Zink said she could not answer the question, citing lack of knowledge about the matter.

A month earlier, at the March 27, 2025 council meeting, Mayor Leo Lutz said such bans are “standard procedure” that had occurred “quite a few times in the past.” When asked by a resident about who had been banned, Lutz responded: “Probably everybody that left, including officers. It’s a standard management decision.”

Councilman Eric Kauffman: “That’s not a standard policy.”

However, a different picture emerged at Tuesday’s council workshop. In the mayor’s absence, Councilman Eric Kauffman contradicted Lutz’s earlier statements when responding to resident Frank Doutrich’s question about Jenkins’ status.

“I don’t believe that is the policy,” Kauffman stated, adding that Jenkins had not been banned from borough property. “That’s not a standard policy.” Kauffman prefaced his remarks by saying he did not want to misrepresent the mayor but maintained that banning is not standard policy. Councilman Kauffman’s statements suggest no such blanket policy exists.

The discrepancy raises concerns regarding communication and clarity about borough policies, particularly given the mayor’s role as a public representative. Perhaps the matter will be resolved if the mayor attends next week’s borough council meeting.