04-22.13 //////  Cancel this informatonal. THE MOTORCYCLE OWNER'S WERE LOCATED.   

On April 18, 2013, our department received a call regarding two found Yamaha dirt bike motorcycles on private property on Haar Road in North Codorus Township. The dirt bikes are being stored at the Southwestern Regional station. At this time there is no information as to ownership or registration. Anyone who has information in regard to these dirt bikes is asked to contact Officer Bryn Lindenmuth @ 717-225-1333 Ext. 106.

 A husband and wife have been charged with a total of 11 felonies as a result of a sexual assault investigation.  The male, Stephen Noel Jesse, 44 YOA, of 1600 blk. Westgate Dr., York, and his wife, April Jesse, 40 YOA, 1300 blk. East Market St., York, were booked into the York County Intake Center on 04-12-13.

 The husband is accused of many instances of sexually assaulting a female who was less than 16 years of age at the time of the incident; which began in 2006 and ended in 2010.  The suspects were living together at the time in the 5600 blk of Liecheys Church Rd., Spring Grove, North Codorus Twp.  The wife is accused of knowing of the assaults and allowing them to occur over a several year time period. 

 The victim was someone that was known to both defendants.

 Both are charged with the following:

1)    Invol. Deviate Sexual Intercourse/person less than 16 YOA – F1

2)    Statutory Sexual Assault – F2

3)    Agg. Indecent Assault/person less than 16 YOA – F2

4)    Indecent Assault/person less than 16 YOA – F3

5)    Corruption of Minors – F3

 April Jesse is also charged with:  Endangering the Welfare of a Child – F3

 Anyone who may have additional information regarding this case or these defendants are asked to contact Det. Sgt. Lisa Layden at 717-225-1333 ext. 115.

 After an investigation that lasted more than seven (7) months, on January 29, 2013, charges were filed on: Ryan J. Barnes, 35 YOA, North Pine Ave., Spring Grove, PA.  The charges were as follows:

        1)    Unlawful Contact with a Minor                                          1 ct.     F3

2))    Disseminate Sexually Explicit Material to a Minor       2 cts.   F3

3)    Corruption of Minors                                                           1 ct.     F3

 The investigation revealed that Barnes made contact with a 15 year old (at the time) female, hundreds of times via either text messages or by phone calls.  The material that was sent was either sexually explicit messages, sexually explicit acts or sexually explicit photographs.

 Barnes was charged through MDJ Reilly’s Office.  He has since waived his preliminary hearing and the case has been forwarded to York County Court. 

 If anyone else has additional information on this case, they are asked to contact Det. Sgt. Lisa Layden, at 717-225-1333 ext. 115.

The Southwestern Regional Police Department is investigating the over night theft of a black and yellow, CAT Skid Steer and a black and red Hudson low boy utility trailer. The skid steer has an enclosed cab but the door is missing. It also has a yellow flashing light on it's roof that illuminates when the skid steer is running. The skid steer has "Cleveland Brothers" stickers on arms of the bucket. These items were taken from the York Road/Lehman Road intersection project. Anyone with information should contact Ofc. Brandy Goodling at 717-225-1333 ext. 107.

 On March 4, 2013, undercover officers from the Southwestern Regional Police Department along with officers with the York County Drug Task Force conducted a drug investigation in the area of East Third Ave., Spring Grove, PA. 

 Officers had previous information that persons were selling Heroin to Spring Grove residents at several locations in the town.  Undercover officers purchased heroin from the two defendants that were arrested.  Defendant, Timothy Ishway was arrested at the scene at approximately 830 pm on the above date.  Defendant Eduardo Fernandez was arrested on March 16, 2013 at his home.  The defendants and their charges are as follows:

 1)    Eduardo Fernandez                        18 YOA          East Third Ave., Spring Grove, PA

            Violation of a Controlled Substance        3 cts    Felony

 2)    Timothy Ishway                    26 YOA          East Maple St., Dallastown, PA

            Violation of a Controlled Substance        1 ct.     Felony

 Both were taken to the York County Prisoner Intake Center in York. 

 If anyone has additional information to provide on this investigation, we ask that you contact Ofr. Bryn Lindenmuth, Southwestern Regional PD, at 717-225-1333 ext. 104

On Dec. 28, 2012 at 8:20 pm, the 43 year-old female victim, a York resident,  was completing her shopping at the Spring Forge Plaza, 500 blk. of N. Main St., Spring Grove.  The victim placed her purse within her vehicle, closed her door,  and walked her shopping cart back to a cart retrieval area.   As she returned to her vehicle, she observed a vehicle pull up beside her vehicle, the suspect exited his vehicle, opened her car door, removed her purse from the front seat, reentered his vehicle with the purse and drove away.  The loss of the purse and the contents was over $800.

 The victim was able to retrieve the vehicle license plate number.  Officers tracked the vehicle to a residence in Thomasville, PA and found stolen items from within the vehicle.  The owner of the vehicle was not the suspect in the crime.  It was only recently that the suspect was actually identified by officers, as: 

Tyler Anthony Livingston, 19 YOA, Chesapeake Estates, Thomasville, PA

 Livingston is charged with:

Theft from a Motor Vehicle M1

Receiving Stolen Property M1

 Livingston failed to attend his preliminary hearing last week and the case is bound over to York County Court.

 On 03/06/2013 at approximately 801 pm,  26 year old, Erica Sanders of Aspers, Pa.,  was driving her 2004 Jeep Liberty  west bound in the 2200 block of Stoverstown Road, Spring Grove,  North Codorus Township, when she lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle went off the right side of the roadway striking a guard rail end post. The vehicle then continued approximately 100 feet off of the roadway and into a creek.  The vehicle was destroyed.

The driver was transported to the York Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Evidence at the scene indicated that alcohol was a contributor in the crash. The crash is still under investigation.

Anyone with information into this crash are asked to contact  Southwestern Regional Police Officer Jeffrey Knouse @ 717-225-1333 Ext.-106.

 At 0130 hrs. on Sunday Jan. 27, 2013, one of our officers was patrolling in North Codorus Twp. when he spotted a faint and distant light in a darkened field by a small stream.  The officer originally believed that it was someone who was checking their traps.   When the light did not move, the officer’s curiosity caused him to stop and venture into the field on foot.  The temperature was well below freezing and it had just begun to snow.  As he started walking to the barely visible light, he began to notice some sporadic vehicle tracks in the ground and also scattered on the ground were clothing items and items from a vehicle, to include a child’s car seat. 

The officer had walked about 150 feet when he realized the light was actually a vehicle headlight.  The vehicle was nose-down into the small stream and only one headlight was still burning.  The light was refracting off of the ice on the stream and therefore causing the light to be very dim.  The officer reached the vehicle and called out to see if there were any occupants but got no response.  He then ran back to the roadway, crossed a bridge, and went back to the vehicle, this time from the opposite side of the stream.  Again, he called out but did not hear or see anyone. 

 He did hear a faint rustling in the leaves on the opposite side of the stream but could not determine what it was from.  Hearing it a second time, he again ran back to the roadway and crossed the bridge to better investigate the noise.  This time, lying against a tree on a very steep bank of the stream, he observed the driver of the vehicle, Douglas D. Morris, 28 YOA, of Hanover.  He was unconscious and bleeding from the head.  To make matters worse, much of his clothing had been torn from his person when he was ejected from the vehicle.  In had very little clothing to protect him from the freezing temperatures and the snow. 

 Medics were summoned along with the North Codorus Twp. Fire Department.  During this time, the officer answered a ringing cell phone in the damaged vehicle.  It was a friend looking for the victim.  It was then that the officer realized that the victim was the lone occupant of the vehicle.  The officer also was then able to call a family member and advise them of the crash.  The fire department was able to remove Morris from the undergrowth and transported him to York Hospital.  As of this morning, Morris is being cared for in the Intensive Care Unit of York Hospital. 

 It was later determined that Morris was westbound on Salem Rd., Spring Grove, North Codorus Twp., near the intersection of Joseph Rd.  The vehicle crossed into the eastbound lane of traffic, struck a guardrail on the opposite side of the road, and exited the roadway on the south side.  At that point the vehicle, a 1996 Jeep Cherokee, apparently slid on its side and/or was airborne and ejected Morris from the vehicle.  It came to rest partially in the 10 foot wide stream; some 150 feet off of the roadway.  It has not yet been positively determined how long Morris was laying in the underbrush.  The investigation is still continuing.

 Our department is very pleased that Officer Dennis Brillhart was able to observe the one thing that would allow anyone to observe the crash scene, the faintly lit headlight.  He is very conscientious in his police duties and often notices things on patrol that are concerning to public safety.  This incident is another example of his work ethic.  It cannot be immediately concluded what would have occurred to the victim if the officer had not seen the crash scene.  But, in that the victim incurred serious injuries in the crash, and that he was unprotected from the severe weather, we are simply pleased of the outcome; to this point. 

 Our department has installed a new secure drop off box in the lobby of the police department for unwanted prescription drugs. 

The abuse of prescription medicines has surpassed that of illegal street drugs in our area.  When unused and unwanted medicines are kept in the home after an illness, they may be susceptible to use by others than what was originally intended. 

Residents may want to destroy these medicines but sometimes find that process difficult.  Local municipal authorities no longer recommend flushing the medicines into waste water treatment systems.   Placing them in the garbage may contaminate landfills.  These medicines may now be brought to the police station where a secure drop box is located in our lobby.  These items are then transported to the York County Solid Waste Authority for safe destruction.  There is no cost to residents for this service.  The Authority provided our department with the secure box at no cost.

Residents should remove their personal information from the drug containers.  Certain medicines cannot be dropped off at this location.  They include: medications from businesses, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans, thermometers, and needles.

 On 01-02-13 at 3:19 pm, W/M, Wayne H. Brennamen, 81 Years of age, of the 3300 blk. of Days Mill Rd., York, North Codorus Twp., had just walked across the roadway in front of his home to retrieve his mail from his mailbox.   He was walking back to the other side where his home is located and was in the middle of the roadway when he was struck by a westbound vehicle, a 1990 Plymouth Horizon, driven by W/F Danielle Alkin, 18 years of age, Seven Valleys, PA. 

Preliminary information and eyewitness information indicate that the crash was unavoidable by the driver of the vehicle.  A traffic crash reconstruction of the scene will follow to obtain exact information.  Any additional witnesses to the crash are asked to contact Ofr. Holly Jackson at 717-225-1333 ext. 114.

 At approx. 3:00 p.m., 10-09-12, a tractor trailer hauling corn was traveling west in the 2800 blk of Stoverstown Rd., Spring Grove, North Codorus Twp., (near SR 516) when the driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a curve. The tractor trailer left the roadway and struck a tree and then rolled on its side dumping it's load of corn. The driver, Donald Sunday, 61 YOA, of Dover, was able to free himself from the vehicle and was transported to York Hospital for minor injuries sustained from the accident. Vehicle owner, John Shearer of Spring Grove, was able to remove all of the corn from the roadside on the next day.  Anyone who witnessed the crash, please contact Ofr. Brandy Goodling, Southwestern Regional Police Department (717)225-1333.  The investigation is pending additional information.

 On 09-26-12 at 9 pm, Officers were dispatched to a theft in progress at the Hanover Iron Works, 400 blk Gitts Run Rd., Hanover, Heidelberg Twp.

A witness observed a subject taking large pieces of metal from the exterior of the business and placing it on the back of a trailer pulled by a pick-up truck.  That witness called 911 and a description of the vehicle was placed on the police radio.  Sgt. Merwede of Penn Twp. Police, (which borders this business with Heidelberg Twp.), observed the vehicle and stopped the vehicle.  Ofr. Harrison, SWRPD, arrived soon thereafter.  After confirming that the suspect did not have permission to be at that location, and was not to posses the metals, he was charged with the following:

 Charged: W/M John Russell Lehigh, 1000 blk. Abbottstown Pike, Hanover, PA 17331, DOB 01-08-61. 

Charges include:         

Theft (Misd.)

Possession of Stolen Property (Misd.)

Trespassing (Summary)

The defendant had other large pieces of metal materials with him that did not belong to this business.  If there are others who believe that they are the victim of this type of crime, please contact Ofr. Stu Harrison, 717-225-1333 ext. 111.

Lisa A. Myers, 26 of York, PA was traveling east bound on York Road (Route 116) at approximately 2:30am on Sunday, September 16, 2012 when she failed to notice the roadway was closed ahead of her. She crashed through the construction barricades just east of Lehman Road, continuing east bound 1/8 of a mile before entering the bridge replacement site. She then drove over a 30 foot embankment into a giant pit. Myers climbed out of the pit and walked to a nearby friend's house. Myers didn't report the accident until 10am Sunday morning. The Southwestern Regional Police Department is investigating. Representatives of the construction company reported no financial loss but stated clean up will take several hours. Myers' 2008 Toyota Prius was removed from the pit by the construction company using a large backhoe. Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact Officer Shaun Dickmyer at (717) 225-1333 ext. 113.

Single vehicle accident closes Salem Road late this afternoon for about an hour. William Routson, 55 of York, PA was northbound on Salem Road, near Cherry when he lost control of his vehicle and hit the embankment. His vehicle overturned and came to a final rest on its side. Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in the crash.

 On Sunday Sept. 2, 2012, at approx. 1115 AM, two vehicles collided at the intersection of Seven Valleys Rd., (SR 616) and Linton Terrace, York, North Codorus Twp.  The vehicles involved were a full sized pick-up truck, driven by Keith Reed, 46, Biesecker Rd.,York, Jackson Twp., and a motorbike, driven by Larry Miller, 66 YOA Yellow Church Rd., Seven Valleys. PA.  Miller was killed in the crash.  Reed was unhurt.

The motorbike was legally being driven in a northbound direction on SR 616.  The truck was entering SR 616 from Linton Terrace when the truck struck the motorbike.  Miller was thrown from the motorbike and across the hood of the truck.  Miller was wearing a motorcycle helmet.

Miller was taken to York Hospital with multiple injuries.  He was listed in serious condition as of Sunday afternoon.  His condition worsened and died at the hospital Sunday evening. 

 The Southwestern Regional Police Department closed the roadway for approx three (3) hours on Sunday evening to perform studies that will show a reconstruction of the crash and the particulars both before and after the crash.  The investigation continues but it appears that Reed violated the right of way of Miller’s vehicle.  The department is looking for any witnesses to the crash and they are asked to call the investigating Officer Mike Matthews at 717-225-1333 ext 110.

 We are pleased to offer new interactive and cutting edge technology on our redesigned web site - that is now available.  This new site will provide the public and the media with information regarding our department and news for this community; and will allow these groups an easy way to provide information to us.

 As of today, we have a remodeled web site that has many features that include:

 1) Press Releases are now listed here as soon as they are written; no longer will press releases be emailed or faxed out to the media as in the past.

  2) The public and the media are encouraged to sign up on the web site for “Nixel.”  Nixel is a free program that when the user signs up for the service, the recipient will receive a text and/or e-mail message whenever there is a news item that the department generates.  The messages will be a wide variety of items to include new press releases on crimes issues, road closures when there will be a substantial impact on the motoring public, alerts such as the description of lost or missing persons, or general information such as our latest release that talks about a Child ID program that will be offered at this year’s Spring Grove SeptemberFest.  This information will also automatically be placed on the department’s new Facebook page.

 3) The web site contains a section called a “Daily Log” that has a listing of every call that we respond to in our four (4) communities.  Rather than just wonder what happened in your neighborhood, this is an easy way to get the basics of the call and why officers were there.

 4) There is a listing of all officers and their phone and email addresses.

 5) There is an e-mail address called “ask an officer” to ask the department general questions about the laws and their communities.

 6) There is a way to e-mail us information about crimes or disorder and to remain anonymous.

 7) There is interesting and current information on the web that will allow residents to learn how to avoid being the victim of a crime. 

 8) There is a way to e-mail us that the resident is going away and to provide us information in case we need to contact the homeowner while they are away.

 When we decided a year ago that a new site was needed, we, like most other municipal organizations, didn’t know where the funding would come from for the site.   Businesses and residents responded with the $3,000 needed and this site has been made possible due to their generosity – at no expense to the tax payer.

 The contributors are listed on the web site and as follows: John & Patricia Warehime, Paul Miller Trucking, W.H. Cooke & Co., Exchange Club of Hanover, Kinsley Construction, Loyal Order of Moose, Stock & Leader Attorneys, F&S Yamaha & Marine, Legacy Athletic, and for his assistance in this project, web designer Joe Drahusz of BIG (Business Information Group of York).

 On Monday, August 20, 2012 the Southwestern Regional Police Department charged Timothy M. Jacoby of York, PA with the death of Monica Schmeyer.  Ms. Schmeyer was killed in her home in Manheim Township on March 31, 2010.  Click on the link below to read the complete Criminal Complaint and Affidavit of Probable Cause.

 On 01-30-11 at 5:00 pm, police officers responded to the 1000 blk of Kraft’s Mill Rd., Spring Grove, North Codorus Twp., for a report of a sexual assault of a 12 year-old, handicapped, female.  

The investigation revealed that the mother of the victim returned home and found her daughter in bed with the suspect, w/m, Joshua A. Moran, at the time he was 35 YOA, who resided at that same residence.  The suspect was taken into custody at the scene and charged at that time.  He has remained in York County Prison since then, pending his trial which began the week of 07-09-12.

 DNA evidence linked Moran to the assault.

 On 07-11-12, the suspect plead guilty in front of Judge Trebilcock in York County Court to the following charges, prior to the trial beginning: Aggravated Indecent Assault, F1; and Corruption of Minors, M1.  The sentencing of the defendant will occur in the future.