W. Whiteland investigators charge 2 women with theft, link them to others
The West Whiteland Township Criminal Investigation Division began an investigation into a $258 retail theft that occurred at the Target store on March 24, a probe that determined that Kylie Copes, 23, and Kirsten Back, 22, both of Pottstown, were responsible for the theft, West Whiteland Township Police said. In addition, investigators concluded that Copes and Back were also responsible for two similar thefts at Target stores in Montgomery County; during each incident, each subject had their young child with them during the crimes, police said. Both subjects were charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property, criminal conspiracy, and endangering the welfare of a child, police said, adding that investigators have been unable to locate Back so a warrant has been issued for her arrest.
On April 1, officers from the West Whiteland Township Police Department responded to the unit block of Atherton Drive for a reported assault, police said. Upon arrival, officers determined that John Danielson, 58, of Downingtown, had forced his way into the residence of his estranged wife and assaulted a male inside the residence, police said. Danielson left the area prior to the arrival of police and later turned himself in, police said. He was arraigned on burglary, criminal trespass, simple assault and harassment charges, police said.
On April 3, West Whiteland officers responded to the 800 block of Brandywine Road for a medical call involving a subject down in the roadway, police said. Upon arrival, it was determined that the subject was actually in East Bradford Township and the West Chester Borough Police Department handled the incident, arresting Michael Collas, 38, of West Chester, police said. A check was recovered from Collas during his arrest that was allegedly stolen from a residence in the 600 block of Overlook Drive in West Whiteland Township, police said, adding that West Whiteland Police charged Collas with theft by deception, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.
A three-vehicle crash on April 3, led officers from the West Whiteland Township Police Department to the 200 block of Main Street, police said. After investigation, the driver of the striking vehicle, Angela McEwen, 25, of Gap, was charged with DUI and released on a criminal summons, police said.
On April 6, an officer from the West Whiteland Township Police Department stopped a vehicle for speeding on the Rt. 100 Spur, police said. After making contact with the driver, Leslie McConnell, 21, of Downingtown, the officer recovered suspected marijuana and paraphernalia from McConnell’s vehicle, police said. She was charged with the drug offenses and released on a criminal summons, police said.
On April 7, officers from the West Whiteland Township Police Department responded to the K-Mart store for a reported theft, police said. Upon arrival, officers were advised that Whitney Boyd, 27, of Exton, had stolen $19 worth of merchandise, and she was charged with misdemeanor retail theft and receiving stolen property and then released on a criminal summons, police said.
The report of a parking lot robbery prompted police to respond to the K-Mart store on April 7, police said. Patrol officers spoke to the victim, who stated that she was with a group of subjects when one of them – later identified as Antoine Cheatam, 24, of Philadelphia – assaulted her and stole two cell phones from her.A description of the vehicle was broadcast to other departments, and Cheatam was taken into custody after being stopped by the East Whiteland and Tredyffrin Township departments, police said. He was arraigned on charges of robbery, theft by unlawful taking, simple assault, and related offenses, police said, adding that he was remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $25,000 cash bail.
On April 8, officers from the West Whiteland Township Police Department responded to the K-Mart store for a reported theft by an employee, police said. Upon arrival, officers were advised by the store’s loss prevention officer that Nicholas Thomas, 34, of Exton, had been interviewed and admitted stealing $400 from registers on April 3 and April 6; Thomas then asked to use the bathroom, police said. He quickly accessed another register where he stole $82 and fled the store, police said. Patrol officers located Thomas in the area and took him into custody, police said. He was charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and disorderly conduct and released on a criminal summons, police said.
On April 8, an officer from the West Whiteland Township Police Department responded to the Wal-Mart store for a report of a theft, police said. The responding officer spoke to a store employee who stated that Kimberly Estes, 44, of Coatesville, who was accompanied by her 10-year-old child, had stolen $67 worth of merchandise from the store, police said. Estes was charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property and endangering the welfare of a child before being released on a criminal summons, police said.
Also on April 8, officers from the West Whiteland Township Police Department responded to the Lenscrafters store at the Exton Square Mall for a theft report, police said. Upon arrival, officers were advised that two subjects stole seven pairs of sunglasses valued at $1,049, police said. One of the subjects, Erica Tucker, 29, of Wilmington, De., was stopped by a security officer at the mall, police said. Tucker was charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy, police said, adding that she was released on a criminal summons.
On April 10, West Whiteland officers responded to the Pour House for a report of an intoxicated person causing a disturbance, police said. Tyler Jones, 27, of Downingtown, was cited for public drunkenness and released to a relative, police said.
An officer from the West Whiteland Township Police Department stopped a vehicle for speeding on the U.S. 30 Bypass on April 12 and determined that one of the occupants, Shahid Carter, 21, of Philadelphia, had a warrant for his arrest in Philadelphia, police said. Carter was charged as a fugitive from justice and remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post $25,000 bail, police said.
On April 12, officers from the West Whiteland Township Police Department were dispatched to a residence in the 700 block of Timber Lane for an overdose, police said. Upon arrival, officers found suspected heroin and drug paraphernalia with the patient, Benjamin Kiev, 24, who was charged with possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia, police said.
On April 14, officers from the West Whiteland Township Police Department responded to a possible impaired driver on Pottstown Pike and Kirkland Avenue. The caller, a AAA tow truck driver, reported that he was assisting a disabled motorist and he felt that the motorist was impaired.An officer made contact with the driver, Contessa DiAndrea-Clifford, 18, of West Chester, who was arrested for drunken driving after exhibiting signs of intoxication and failing field sobriety tests, police said. DiAndrea-Clifford was released to a relative, and a criminal summons was filed, police said.
