MOTORCYCLIST DIES IN CRASH

Joseph C. Harper, 41, of London Grove Township, died after an accident on Nov. 20 in front of 451 W. Baltimore Pike in Penn Township. Pennsylvania State Police Avondale reported that Harper was driving a motorcycle east on Baltimore Pike at what police called “a high rate of speed” just before 9 p.m. when he struck a car being driven westbound by Cesar Alvarez Castaneda, 22, of Penn Township. Harper was killed. Castaneda was not injured and has not been charged with any crime. An investigation is underway. West Grove Fire Department and EMS assisted at the scene.

SHOTS FIRED AT HOME

Pennsylvania State Police Avondale reported that someone drove up to a home at 4 Friendship Church Road in Highland Township on Nov. 18 at 6:30 p.m. and fired four or five shots at the home while the 80-year-old homeowner was outside. At least one shot hit the building. The suspects then fled in a sedan. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-268-2022.

BURGLARY ALERT

The New Garden Township Police Department issued a crime alert on Nov. 18 as a result of a daytime forced-entry burglary at an unoccupied house.

The break-in occurred on Nov. 13 between 10:45 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Shortledge Court in Landenberg, police said. Police are encouraging the public to call 911 or 610-268-3171 to report suspicious behavior. There is also a website (www.ngpd.org) with crime alerts and tips. The police statement read, “past experience and increased similar activity in nearby New Castle County suggests that additional crimes may occur.”

INJURIES FROM CRASH

Two people sustained moderate injuries in a crash on Nov. 11 on Route 41 at Fernwood Road, according to a report from Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. Police said Robert Grobosky, 89, of Cochranville, was driving southbound behind a tractor trailer which was slowing to turn into a driveway at 2100 Gap Newport Pike. Grobosky tried to swerve around the truck but struck the rear tires. Grobosky's 2013 Chevrolet Sonic overturned and slid off of the northbound shoulder of Route 41. Also involved was Thomas Schnoor, 60, of Ephrata, who was driving northbound at the time and was struck by Grobosky's overturned car. Grobosky and his wife, Elizabeth, 87, sustained injuries and were taken to Christiana Hospital. Both Schnoor and the truck driver, Thomas Wrigley, of Cochranville, were not injured. Grobosky will be charged with careless driving, police said.

BURGLARIES

A home at 776 W. State Road in West Grove was forcibly entered through a rear door on Nov. 11 between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and jewelry was stolen, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-268-2022.
A home at 2532 Forge Road in Oxford was broken into between Nov. 17 and 19, according to Pennsylvania State Police Avondale. The front door was forced open, and a television and gaming console were taken. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-268-2022.

HARASSMENT BY TEXT

On Nov. 9, New Garden Township Police investigated a harassment complaint. The suspect, Alvaro Juarez, 48, of Toughkenamon, was charged with sending text messages with sexually graphic images to the victim. Charges were filed against him for harassment, stalking and other related crimes. He was released pending a court appearance.

DUI

Luis Angel Diaz-Zurita, of Mexico, was arrested for DUI after a traffic stop on Nov. 23 at 10:40 p.m. on Route 1 south at Route 41.

Adam Mark Holmes, 28, of Cochranville, was arrested for DUI on Nov. 24 after his car ran into the guide wires in the middle of Route northbound and then left the roadway on the right shoulder, striking the guard rail. He was found to be under the influence of a controlled substance and arrested by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale.

Tyler Joseph Torello, of Kennett Square, was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police Avondale on Nov. 18 after he was stopped for a traffic violation at Line Road and Newark Road and found to be DUI. He also had drug paraphernalia.

Carlos Zavala-Garcia, of Kennett Square, was arrested for DUI on Nov. 20 at Route 1 and Route 82 after a traffic stop.