Arson in Car Fire, Drunk Broomall Man in Bala Cynwyd, Granite Run Mall Sees New Owner, and Archbishop Carroll Athletic Director Arrested

Friday, April 15

HAVERFORD–Albert Hufnal, detective for the Haverford Township Police Department, said there were no new developments regarding the stolen Broomall car that was set on fire in Havertown last week.

According to a Marple Township Police incident report, the car was parked along West Chester Pike in Broomall. The owner reported the car stolen on Thursday, April 7, to the Marple Township Police, according to the report.

The that Haverford Township Police responded to last Thursday evening was a case of arson, confirmed Chief Deputy John Viola.

"It was an arson. It was a stolen car. And it is under investigation and we expect some arrests," Viola said to the Haverford-Havertown Patch last Friday morning, adding that the black four-door 2001 Cadillac STS was stolen in Marple Township.

Around 6 p.m. along Karakung Drive in Havertown police were called to the scene after a passing motorist spotted the car on fire. The car was parked on the side of the road in the grass in front of a creek. 

The ., where Viola is also the fire chief, put the fire out.

At least two bottles of Kingsford lighter fluid were discovered at the scene—one in the trunk and one near the driver’s side door on the ground.

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Saturday, April 16

BALA CYNWYD–David Aquino, 23, of the 2900 block of Highland Avenue in Broomall was arrested about 1:45 a.m. Saturday, April 16, on Rock Hill Road in Bala
Cynwyd. Police said Aquino was staggering in the rain, and his blood alcohol content tested at 0.24. Aquino was charged with public intoxication.

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Monday, April 18

RADNOR–The long time athletic director at has been arrested on charges of unlawful contact with minors and corruption of minors, according to the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Francis Murphy was arrested Friday and was being held on $250,000 cash bail. 

Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman announced the arrest Monday. Ferman said Murphy is charged with "Unlawful Contact or Communication with a Minor, Promoting Prostitution, Corruption of Minors, Attempted Corruption of Minors, and related offenses."

Ferman said the arrest follows an investigation that was launched after a male student filed a complaint alleging that Murphy made sexually suggestive comments to the student on Facebook.

According to the district attorney, Murphy was arrested Friday after police said he arranged to meet with Montgomery County detectives who posed as the boy. According to a press release issued by the district attorney "On Friday, April 15, 2011 Montgomery County Detective units set up surveillance at Frosty Falls Ice Cream in Bridgeport. At 10:35 a.m. a Francis Murphy arrived at Frosty Falls and was subsequently arrested in the parking lot."

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Tuesday, April 19

MEDIA–Earlier this month the Granite Run Mall came under new management and the new operating company says it will be make improvements to the mall that has seen a decline in clientele and an abundance of vacant stores.

Madison Marquette, a Washington D.C. based investor, developer and operator of retail space, assumed management and leasing responsibilities of the mall on April 1, according to a press release on the company’s website.

The company also manages Glen Eagle Square in Glen Mills, Shoppes at Marville in Newtown Square and Edgmont Square Shopping Center in Edgmont Township.

Robyn Marano, the Philadelphia regional director of marketing for Madison Marquette, said immediate improvements to the mall, which opened in 1974, are already in the works.