$5K In Fentanyl, Cocaine Seized During Reading Drug Bust; Two Women Arrested
Two Reading women were arrested after a Berks County Drug Task Force raid uncovered fentanyl, cocaine, and drug paraphernalia worth $5,000, officials said.
Susan Rich, 46, and Autumn Yerger, 42, were taken into custody around 6 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 26, after detectives executed a search warrant at their apartment on the first floor of 311 N. 9th Street, according to Berks County Chief County Detective Michael Gombar.
The bust followed a two-month investigation sparked by complaints of drug sales at the address, officials said.
Detectives seized:
4.3 grams of suspected fentanyl;
18 bundle…
37 Bags Of Cocaine, Stun Gun Seized In Berks Drug Bust, West Lawn Man Charged: DA
A Berks County man was caught with crack cocaine and a stun gun after authorities executed a search warrant, officials announced on Tuesday, Feb. 11.
Juan Carlos Soto-Arizmendi, 31, of West Lawn, was arrested after an undercover investigation led to a drug bust in Shoemakersville, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
Detectives with the Berks County Drug Task Force had been investigating Soto-Arizmendi since August 2024. On Dec. 11, authorities served a search warrant on him, his vehicle, and his cell phone in the 300 block of Logistics Drive, uncovering a stash of dr…
Reading Man Who Sexually Abused Autistic Child, Fled Sentencing, Captured In Dominican Republic
A Reading man who sexually abused an autistic child and skipped his sentencing hearing was captured in the Dominican Republic and returned to Berks County, authorities announced Friday, Feb. 7.
Rafael Vendrell, 75, pleaded nolo contendere to two counts of Aggravated Indecent Assault in November 2023 after being accused of sexually abusing an autistic juvenile, according to Berks County District Attorney John T. Adams.
Vendrell was released on bail while awaiting his sentencing on Feb. 14, 2024, but failed to appear in court, prompting a judge to issue a bench warrant, authorities said.
On …
Reading Meth, Fentanyl Trafficker Arrested: DA Says
A Reading man was arrested for distributing methamphetamine and fentanyl after a months-long investigation, Berks County authorities announced Friday, Jan. 24.
Walter Carrera, 38, of 1219 Windsor Street, was taken into custody when detectives and Pennsylvania State Troopers served a search warrant at his home earlier in the day, Chief County Detective Michael Gombar said.
The investigation began in October 2024, with undercover purchases and surveillance identifying Carrera as a distributor, Gombar said. During the search of his residence, detectives seized:
Approximately six grams of fen…
Four $1M PA Lottery Raffle Tickets Sold In Berks, Bucks, Columbia Counties
Four lucky winners rang in the New Year with $1 million prizes from the Pennsylvania Lottery’s Millionaire Raffle, officials announced on Monday, Jan. 6.
The tickets were sold at locations in Berks, Bucks, and Columbia counties for the drawing held on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. The winning ticket numbers, 412459, 016472, 156429, and 389266, were sold at:
Flying J, 2210 Camp Swatara Road, Frystown (Berks County)
Saz Petroleum LLC, 400 West Street Road, Warminster (Bucks County)
CVS, 101 Oxford Valley Road, Morrisville (Bucks County)
Millville Food Mart, 11 South State Street, Millville (Columb…
Cold Case: Mom Slashed, Pushed Down Stairs Found By 11-Year-Old Son In Berks County Home: PSP
The Pennsylvania State Police are renewing efforts to solve the 2001 cold case homicide of a Berks County woman who was brutally attacked in her home, investigators announced.
Lisa Carabello, 40, was fatally slashed from behind at the top of the stairs in her Mohnton Borough residence on Feb. 8, 2001, police said. She was found by her 11-year-old son. The attacker inflicted a severe neck wound and multiple stab wounds, causing her to fall down the stairs to her death, according to authorities.
There were no signs of forced entry at her home, which has complicated the investigation, police …
Shots Fired At Police Officer Lands Reading Man Homicide Attempt Charge: Berks DA
A 22-year-old man was arrested after allegedly firing multiple gunshots at police officers during a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle, the Berks County District Attorney's office announced on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
The incident began when officers spotted a stolen Toyota Camry on Cotton Street around 8:01 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, as detailed in the DA's release. When they attempted a traffic stop, the driver, later identified as Davius Manuel Ortiz, fled on foot, leading police through alleys and backyards.
During the chase, Ortiz reportedly fired at least seven shots at officers and nearby …
Mom Justified In Fatal Shooting Of Myerstown Son During Break-In: DA
A Berks County woman who shot and killed her son after he broke into her home acted in self-defense, authorities announced on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Sean M. Clemens, 32, of Myerstown, was shot multiple times by his 64-year-old mother during a confrontation at her residence on Little Mountain Road in Bethel Township, Berks County, on Wednesday, Nov. 6, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s Office.
The incident began around 7:50 a.m. when the woman called 911 to report that she had shot her son after he forcibly entered her home, officials said.
Investigators said Clemens, who had a h…
Snow Totals Released: Here's How Much Snow Your Town Saw This Week
The National Weather Service has released snow totals from this week's winter storm.
Snowfall accumulation impacted areas across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York, with Sussex County, NJ, and Putnam County, NY, seeing the highest totals from Sunday, Dec. 15 into Monday, Dec. 16.
Below are detailed figures reported by state, county, and town, as per the National Weather Service:
New Jersey
Mercer County:
Trenton Mercer Airport: Trace (11:59 PM, 12/15)
Morris County:
Butler (1 S): 3.0 inches (5:15 AM, 12/16)
Sussex County:
Wantage Twp: 4.1 inches (5:00 AM, 12/16)
Wan…
