Category Archives: Gun Arrest

Arrests in which a firearm was seized.

Man Calls In His Own Arrest

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Over the course of several months, detectives in the Lancaster City Police Violent Crime Unit worked with PA Department of Corrections Intelligence Analyst Damien Mscisz regarding an adult male illegally possessing firearms. Analyst Mscisz had uncovered phone and video calls of the male conversing with an inmate. During these conversations the man was displaying and describing, in great detail, his collection of handguns and accessories which attracted the attention of the inmate as well as the police. 

On April 20th 2022 members of the Special Emergency Response Team conducted their own call…at the man’s house. Eager to show off his stolen handgun to the police, the man threw it out of his third story bedroom to the street below and at the feet of Detective Stan Roache. All of the occupants were then quickly and safely removed from the house and a search was conducted inside by numerous detectives.

Inside the house, police found numerous high capacity “extended” magazines as well as a 50-round drum style magazine. A large amount of ammunition for various calibers of handguns were also seized. Approximately ¼ pound of marijuana, packaged for sale, and numerous prescription medications were found as well.

This investigation started and ended with great teamwork and coordination. Thank you to all involved for your hard work and commitment to making Lancaster City safe for everyone!

Officers Arrest Wanted Man Armed With Two Handguns

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Just before 10 pm on April 10th 2022, Officers Kevin Golinsky and Travis Briggs were on patrol when they saw an unlicensed adult male driving a vehicle. Acting on the violation, officers stopped the car in the 200 block of N Queen Street.

While speaking with the driver and his adult male passenger, Officers Golinksy and Briggs noticed that both were extremely nervous. Low and behold, both had reason to be. The passenger was found to have a warrant and, once he realized the gig was up, the man alerted officers that he was armed with not one but two handguns. Officers quickly and safely seized the 9mm and Standard .38 semi-automatic handguns the man had hidden on his torso. The man, a convicted felon for prior arrests of drug dealing and illegal gun carrying, is safely behind bars.

Thank you Officers Golinksy and Briggs for taking action as well as for your bravery and professionalism!

SEU Investigation Leads to Seizure of Four Firearms and $25,000 Worth of Drugs

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Early in 2022, the members of the Selective Enforcement Unit became aware of drug sales being conducted from a residence in the 900 block of State Street. Over the next several months these dedicated officers used a variety of investigative techniques in order to build a strong case against the occupants of the home and their involvement in the sale of a variety of drugs. Further into the investigation, officers learned that there was a high likelihood of the presence of firearms inside.

Knowing the effect that drug sellers have on a neighborhood, officers spoke with numerous residents in the area. These neighbors had previously felt safe in and out of their home but were frightened and intimidated by the occupants and visitors of the residence. Reaching out to neighboring jurisdictions, our officers found that the people related to this home had been committing a variety of crimes ranging from nuisance to felonious. Understanding that drug investigations extend beyond the neighborhood, our officer contacted County, State, and Federal agencies, all of whom quickly agreed to lend their assistance to this highly reputable unit.

All of this hard work came to a head on 8 April 2022 when a search warrant was conducted at the residence. Our officers served the search warrant along with the assistance of the following agencies:

  • Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team
  • Pennsylvania Counterdrug Joint Task Force (PA National Guard)
  • Pennsylvania Officer of the Attorney General
  • Manheim Township Police Department
  • East Hempfield Police Department

Upon searching the residence officers located the following evidence:

  • One revolver with an obliterated serial number
  • Two semi-automatic handguns
  • One shotgun
  • 129.6 grams of crack cocaine, partially packaged for sale ($12,960 street value)
  • 111.8 grams of powder cocaine, partially packaged for sale ($11,180 street value)
  • 2.16 grams of heroin, packaged for sale ($720 street value)
  • 28 grams of marijuana ($280 street value)
  • 5 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms ($50 street value)
  • 8 Suboxone tabs ($80 street value)
  • 8 Amphetamine pills ($80 street value)
  • $310 U.S. Currency

Two residents of the home were arrested and charged for felony and misdemeanor grade drug violations as well as felony level firearms violations. 

This investigation exemplifies the hard work, dedication, and commitment of these officers. They showed their care for their community, their investigative skills, their humility, and their pursuit of the criminals who destroy the civility of our neighborhoods. For this, and all you do every day, we thank you!

Lancaster City Police Ring in Spring 2022 With Five Guns

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It was a beautiful Spring weekend in Lancaster City and the officers of the Lancaster City Police were out and about doing what they do best–keeping the City safe!

Officer J Hatfield kicked off the weekend just before 1 AM on March 19th. Responding to an active disturbance, Officer Hatfield watched as an adult male took a handgun from the inside of a car, put it in his waistband, and went to leave the area. Officer Hatfield immediately followed after him and bravely kept pursuing as the male removed the handgun and threw it over a fence. The man, a felon unable to possess a firearm, was quickly caught and his handgun was retrieved.

About half an hour later, Officers Ryan Yoder and Matthew Deibler took action when they saw a group of juveniles meandering about the 100 block of Locust Street. When officers went to speak with them, the group scattered in separate directions. As he was being pursued by Officer Yoder, one of the juvenile males removed a handgun from his waistband and threw it to the ground. He was arrested shortly after and found with a significant quantity of marijuana, crack cocaine, and heroin as well as just over $1,400. 

At about 2:30 AM on March 20th officers responded to the 200 block of E Liberty Street after receiving a report of a group of people breaking into parked vehicles. As Officer Jonathan Reppert was in the area he saw a group of juvenile males running from the area. Officer Reppert chased one of the males and quickly saw that he was armed with a handgun. Officer Reppert courageously chased the male through several dark alleys. Knowing that the male was trying to hide, Officer Reppert coordinated responding officers around the area to prevent the male from escaping. The plan worked as the male was unable to escape the watch of Officer Reppert and ran himself into being captured by Officer Tyler Chubb. After the arrest, Officer Eric Erb looked into a nearby yard and found the male’s discarded handgun. Officer Benjamin Strausser located a second handgun which had been thrown by another individual during a separate foot chase.

A little over an hour later, a convicted felon thought it was his lucky day as he found a handgun laying in the street. Unfortunately for him, a citizen watched the adult male conceal the gun and immediately called the police. Officer Eric Erb was able to locate the male and directed Officers Benjamin Rothermel and Grant Gale to him. The handgun was found, discarded by the male, several feet away. Upon his arrest, the male was also found to have a quantity of heroin.

These are just four examples of the great work our officers put in every day. Thank you to all of our officers for your hard work and courage. Lancastrians will have an easier time taking in the fresh spring air knowing that these guns, drugs, and criminals are off of the streets.

Back To Prison For Federal Parolee

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A Federal parolee is safely behind bars after his latest meet and greet with the Lancaster City Police.

In the afternoon of March 10th 2022, Sergeant Andrew Nauman was attempting to locate an adult male involved in a domestic violence investigation. Sgt. Nauman was able to locate and stop him in the 300 block of E Walnut Street and found that a warrant related to a separate domestic assault had just been issued for the man’s arrest earlier that day.

Upon taking him into custody Sgt. Nauman found that the male, a convicted felon on Federal Parole, had a handgun in his waistband. The man also had over 300 grams of marijuana, over 300 pills of Ecstacy, a large amount of Oxycodone, and drug packaging materials.

Great work Sgt. Nauman for taking him off of our streets!

Gun Carrying Drug Dealer Unable to Avoid Capture

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A gun carrying drug dealer was caught in the act on March 8th 2022.

It was about 3 AM when Officers Randall Myers and Charlie Darkes-Burkey spotted an adult male acting suspiciously in an area well-known for drug sales. The male attempted to leave the area in his car, not realizing that our officers were already several steps ahead of him. Unable to hide from officers, he was stopped for a traffic violation. Still thinking he was smarter than our officers, the driver unsuccessfully tried to hide an illegal handgun underneath his seat. Further investigation found a significant amount of marijuana, methamphetamine, and drug packaging materials.

Thank you Officers Myers and Darkes-Burkey for your diligence in removing guns, drugs, and criminals from Lancaster City!

Carelessly Driving, Illegally Carrying

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Officers William Hamby and Matthew Deibler were patrolling the southeast neighborhoods of Lancaster City at about midnight on March 5th 2022 when they observed a vehicle weaving in and out of traffic lanes. 

Officers stopped the car and spoke with the juvenile male driver and adult male passenger. During their conversations, these experienced officers realized that this situation was more than poor driving as each of these males were found to be hiding an illegal handgun in their waistband. Both of these firearms were quickly and safely taken into the hands of the Lancaster City Police.

Thank you Officers Hamby and Deibler for taking action and keeping our City safe!

Burglary Investigation Leads to Gun Arrest

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On February 24th 2022 the Lancaster City Police were called to the 500 block of N Plum Street to investigate a man breaking into an apartment. Officers Michael Whitaker and Steven Cruz were the first to arrive in the area and as they approached, the adult male suspect began to run.

Officers Whitaker and Cruz immediately pursued after him. No stranger to foot chases, Officer Whitaker was able to clearly provide the description of the man as well as his direction of travel to his fellow officers. With this information Officer Eliud Tirado responded swiftly to the location and intercepted the man. As Officer Tirado approached he watched as the man pulled a handgun (which was being carried illegally) from his waistband. When the man realized that Officer Tirado was feet from him, he threw the gun to the ground. Officer Tirado then quickly placed him into custody.

A great show of bravery and discipline from all involved. Thank you to these officers, and all of the other officers, who responded and acted valiantly. Another gun and another bad guy off of the streets!

Selective Enforcement Unit Makes 2021 A Record Year

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The Selective Enforcement Unit (SEU) is critical to keeping Lancaster City a safe place to live, work, and visit. Sergeant Tom Cole, who recently celebrated his 20th year of service, leads the unit of five officers as they use various methods in identifying and prosecuting street and mid-level drug dealing throughout the City. Much of their work ties into other investigations within Lancaster City and County including drug networks, homicides, shootings, robberies, and theft related crimes. These officers are selected based on their strong character, high work ethic, and tenacity in fighting crime.

The unit’s duties are not limited to investigations. Their weekly activities include speaking with their community about improving their neighborhood, testifying in court, attending and conducting trainings, following investigative leads, information sharing with other agencies, writing reports, completing casework, and assisting others within the department. These officers also each take on other duties including serving as members of the Special Emergency Response Team, the Use of Force Cadre, and conducting pre-employment background investigations. The unit has also become a trusted ally of the Lancaster County Drug Task Force, the PA Attorney General’s Office, and Federal Bureau of Investigations, among others. Their dedication to the success of the department and improvement of life in Lancaster City is obvious.

The achievements of SEU can also be attributed to the hard work of the countless other officers of the department who worked alongside them and shared information. A tremendous thank you and congratulations to SEU for their relentless pursuit of criminals.

Authors note: This unit functions under a full team mentality and are asked to perform undercover operations, which is why each officer’s name is not featured here.

SEU 2021 Year End Statistics:

  • 183 people charged with crimes
  • 965 Felony charges
    • 688 of those being Delivery of a Controlled Substance or Possession With Intent to Deliver a Controlled Substance
  • 104 Misdemeanor charges
  • 9 residential search warrants

Seizures:

  • 9 handguns
  • 54.06 grams of heroin ($18,020 street value)
  • 245.14 grams of cocaine ($24,514 street value)
  • 1702.1 grams of marijuana ($17,021 street value)
  • 340 grams of K2/synthetic ($3,400 street value)
  • 120 grams of methamphetamine ($12,000 street value)
  • 51 packets of Suboxone ($510 street value)
  • 302 various prescription pills such as Oxycodone, Xanax, etc.

One Night + Two Car Stops = Three Guns

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It took about four hours for officers to remove three illegal firearms out of the hands of criminals.

Just before 11 PM on February 21st 2022 Officers William Wagner and Charley Darkes-Burkey made a traffic stop for a summary violation in the 300 block of W King Street. As Officer Wagner approached the driver, an adult male, he immediately found him to be hiding a handgun underneath of his leg. Both officers remained calm and clearly communicated with the driver and his adult male passenger. As the investigation continued to unfold, officers found that the passenger not only had a large amount of drugs but he also had a handgun with an extended magazine. Both of these weapons were possessed illegally.

Inside the car, officers were able to find a significant amount of PCP as well as Alprazolam and Oxycodone pills, about $400 worth of crack cocaine, and nearly $2,400.00. Three additional extended magazines were found, brining the total amount of ammunition accessible to the men to 122 rounds. The passenger, a man with a significant history of gun possession and violent crime, was also wanted through United States Probation and Parole.

At about 3:30 AM on the 22nd, Officer Kevin Golinsky observed a car which he was aware had been involved in a recent shooting. He was able to stop the car in the area of S Christian Street and Woodward Street. Completing a thorough traffic stop, Officer Golinksy was able to find that the passenger, an adult male, was hiding an illegally possessed handgun at his feet. This man also had a sizeable amount of marijuana with him as well. Not only was this a great arrest but the information gathered could possibly lead to an arrest in an open shooting investigation.

Both of these stops are displays of great police work. Three dangerous people and three firearms were removed from our streets. Thank you to these officers for a job well done!