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Chester County Press

Police Blotter for the week of Aug. 10

08/11/2015 01:42PM ● By J. Chambless
BURGLARY IN WEST GROVE
Pennsylvania State Police Avondale are investigating a burglary that occurred overnight on July 18 at a home at 243 Schoolhouse Road in West Grove. Police said stolen items included a purse with “a large amount of US currency,” gold jewelry and a diamond. While officers were investigating inside the home, the homeowner said he saw someone run from the basement and down the street. The person was not located by police. The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-268-2022.

INDECENT ASSAULT
On August 2, 2015 at 1:14 p.m., New Garden Township Police responded to a business in the 300 block of Scarlett Road for a report of inappropriate touching.  The victim, a six-year-old girl, advised that a male in the store walked by her in the toy aisle on multiple occasions.  The victim advised that the suspect touched her buttocks area through her clothing, using the palm portion of his hand.  The child immediately reported the incident to her mother who called 911 immediately.  Police located the suspect inside the store, who is identified as Jose Avilez-Ortiz, age 47, of West Chester.  Subsequent to an interview, Avilez-Ortiz claims to having seen the victim inside the store, but stated that if he touched her it was by accident. Avilez-Ortiz was arrested and charged with Indecent Assault and Corruption of Minors, and arraigned by Judge Seavey of Magisterial District Court 15-4-04.  Avilez-Ortiz was remanded to Chester County Prison in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.  

THREATS AGAINST EMPLOYEE
On July 25, New Garden Township Police were called to a business in the 1200 block of Baltimore Pike for a report of threats being made against an employee. The victim told police that he had gotten phone calls and text messages from Eric Swartz, of Elkton, Md., who blamed the employee for getting him fired and telling him he “was going to hurt him.” The victim saw Swartz parked in a nearby lot. Police contacted Swartz, who admitted making the calls and the threat. He was told to have no contact with the victim, and he was charged with harassment.

TEEN BURGLAR
An unidentified 16-year-old was charged with burglary after breaking into a garage at 70 Allsmeer Drive in Penn Township on June 28 and stealing items from the homeowner's vehicle.
 
DUI
Pennsylvania State Police Avondale arrested Zeyad Sherif Zaki, 18, of West Chester, for DUI-drug and drug possession after a traffic stop on July 25 on Route 52 north of Burrows Run in Kennett Township.
Pennsylvania State Police Avondale pulled over a car for speeding on July 24 on Gap Newport Pike and found that the driver, Matthew Aldrich Mackey of Lancaster, was driving under the influence of a controlled substance.
New Garden Township Police investigated a vehicle that was parked and running in a lot in the 1300 block of Baltimore Pike on July 25 at 1:02 a.m., and found the driver, Alejandro Velazquez-Castano, 22, of Toughkenamon, showed signs of impairment. He admitted to drinking with his girlfriend, and said he had left after an argument. He was charged with DUI, taken home and released pending a court appearance.
New Garden Township Police arrested Joaquin Briones-Vazquez, 32, of Coatesville, for DUI after a traffic stop on July 26 at 1:33 a.m. in the 1200 block of Newark Road. He admitted to drinking at a club. He was charged and released pending a court appearance.
On July 26, New Garden Township Police were called for a report of a truck being driven erratically in the 300 block of Scarlett Road. Police found the truck, parked and running, in front of a liquor store. The driver, James Cawley, 61, of Avondale, was seen drinking from a clear bottle wrapped in a bag. He showed signs of impairment and admitted that he drove to the store after drinking earlier that day. He was arrested for DUI, taken home and released pending a court appearance.
Kevin Keating, 54, of Cochranville, was arrested for DUI by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale after he crashed his pickup truck into a ditch on Route 41 at Keller Road on Aug. 2.
Alejandro Juarez-Zavala, 28, of Avondale, was stopped at a traffic light on Polo Road by New Garden Township Police on Aug. 1 at 12:40 a.m. Police observed several empty beer cans on the floor of the vehicle, and that Juarez-Zavala was exhibiting signs of impairment. Juarez-Zavala was later released pending an appearance at Magisterial District Court 15-4-04.  The investigation is cleared by arrest.