Police Blotter: Marijuana Bust on Airport Employee, Physical Assault on Fire Chief, Thieves Steal $300 of Baby Formula, DUI

U.S. Airways Luggage Carrier Busted With Marijuana, Caught With Stolen Electronics in Newtown Square Home

On March 4 at approximately 9:30 a.m., police were called on a search warrant for David Muncey's, 26, home on Brookhill Road in Newtown Square.

Upon arrival, police discovered a metal tin containing two clear sandwich bags of marijuana, three small sandwich bags containing a smaller amount of marijuana and a marijuana smoking pipe as well as $279 in cash in Muncey’s basement bedroom area.

According to police, Muncey admitted to police that the marijuana was his. During the investigation at the home, Newtown detectives located a large amount of suspected stolen electronics.

Police said upon further investigation, Muncey confessed that he had stolen some of th electronics while working as a luggage handler for U.S. Airways.

Muncey was charged with the possession of a small amount of marijuana only for personal use; the possession of a small amount of marijuana with the intent to distribute it but not to sell it; or the distribution of a small amount of marijuana but not for sale.

He was also charged with the use of or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia for the purpose of planting, repacking, storing, concealing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance in violation of this act.

Women Enter CVS, Leave With $300 Worth of Stolen Baby Formula

On March 7 at 8:15 a.m., police responded to the CVS Pharmacy in Newtown Square for a reported theft.

Upon arrival, police said they met with the store manager who told police that on Saturday, March 5, two women stole baby formula from the shelves in the store.

The manager told police that one employee was in the rear of the store and the other was helping a customer at the front when the two women came in. The manager was able to provide police with photos of the women taken from when they entered and when they left the store.

One woman was reported to have blond hair and the other with dark hair. In the photos, both women were carrying bags that appeared to be empty upon entering the store and when they were photographed leaving the store, the bags appeared to be “stuffed,” said police.

According to police, the manager checked the area of the store where the baby formula was kept and found several cans of the baby powder missing. The manager also found the adhesive inventory control and loss prevention stickers that alarm when they are taken from the store, which were scattered around the shelves. The estimated amount stolen was $300.

Man Refuses to Leave Building Fire, Hits Fire Chief in the Face

On March 9 at approximately 6:50 p.m., Newtown police and the Newtown Square Fire Co. arrived at the Newtown Towers apartments for a reported building fire.

Upon arriving to the scene, police said the first floor was filled with heavy smoke and, though many residents were standing outside the building already, firefighters were in the process of evacuating the rest of the residents to safety.

While on the first floor, police said they observed a man walking down the hallway, covering his ears, and attempting to go back up the stairwell but was stopped by Fire Chief Doug Simpson, who ordered him to go outside.

The man began to argue with Simpson about "not wanting to leave the building," said police, and then proceeded to hit the chief twice in the face and then in the stomach.

Police arrested Donald Fach, 78, on scene, while firefighters continued to clear the building. Fach was charged with aggravated assault and attempted or intentionally caused serious bodily injury to Simpson under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life. He was also charged with physical  harassment/strike.

According to police, Fach apologized later stating that he only "wanted to help evacuate the older residents from the second floor."

High Speed Chase Results in DUI Arrest on Newtown Street Road

On March 10 at approximately 1:05 a.m., police arrested James McGill of Villanova for driving under the influence on Route 252/North Newtown Street Road after a high speed chase.

Police said they were trveling along Sugar Maple Drive when a white Acura TL was seen traveling west on Saw Mill Road at a high rate of speed. As police turned onto Saw Mill Road, they observed McGill turning onto the southbound lanes of North Newown Street Road.

McGill was seen traveling south at a high rate of speed on North Newtown Street Road and tried to close the distance between both vehicle, said police, but found it difficult due to the high speed that McGill was traveling.

Police finally caught up with McGill and while speaking with him, police said they noticed the odor of of alcohol coming from McGill. When asked if he had any alcoholic beverages that night, McGill told police he had drank three drinks over the past few hours. According to police, McGill said his last drink was 30 minutes before being pulled.

Police performed a breathalyzer test on McGill as well as two additional tests in which he passed one of those. McGill's blood alcohol content was recorded at 0.156 percent. He was arrested and charged with DUI and for disobeying traffic control devices. McGill was transported to Riddle Memorial Hospital to have blood withdrawn.