Columbia comes together on National Night Out

Columbia Borough celebrated its 4th annual National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2, 2016. The community came together for some much-needed healing after recent events.

 Lots of free hot dogs!
(Unidentified personage in the background)

 Always a hit, Jack Hubley wowed the crowd with a variety of critters

 including this well-fed rat snake.

 Councilwoman Steph Weisser tried on a protective suit used by the Lancaster County Prison K-9 Unit.

 Lancaster County Prison K-9 Unit on the hunt for the bad guy.

Bad guy encountered

TAKEDOWN!

APPREHENDED!

 Bad guy being escorted

 Long line for the horse rides

 Off and running - or at least walking

 Union encampment equipped for a little git-fiddle music.

 Firefighters beating up a Camry in preparation for a rescue demo using the Jaws of Life

Cutting up

 Columbia resident Angel Rodriguez and Officer Brent Keyser

Mom of teen charged in shooting blames Black Lives Matter

The mother of a teen charged in Friday's shooting blames the organization Black Lives Matter for the actions of the teen and his accomplice.

"They are in jail for doing what Black Lives Matter wanted them to do: shoot at cops," Luz Rentas said in a statement to several media outlets, Associated Press reported. "The truth is that these are two punk kids following the orders of an irresponsible organization and now they're gonna pay for it."

BLM rejects the claim.

Happening at the library - Wednesday, Aug. 3

Shooter rifle identified

According to an LNP article, District Attorney Craig Stedman has identified the rifle used in Friday's shooting as a Savage Model 11 .22-250 bolt action rifle with a scope (similar to the one shown above).


The type of ammunition used in the rifle is described below:

The Australian Special Air Service Regiment used Tikka M55 sniper rifles chambered in .22-250 for urban terrorism duties in the 1980s, in an attempt to reduce excessive penetration and ricochets.[8]

Lancaster DA says he's concerned about rhetoric around police

DA Stedman talks about Columbia shooting.:
http://www.witf.org/news/2016/08/lancaster-da-says-hes-concerned-about-rhetoric-around-police.php

Community leaders stand in solidarity to denounce violence

Community leaders led by the NAACP, including church leaders and local law enforcement officials, stood in solidarity outside Mount Zion AME Church on Tuesday to denounce violence in the community, in response to Friday's shooting incident in which police officers were allegedly targeted.

Those attending included Blanding Watson, Lancaster County chapter president of the NAACP; Reverend Patricia McAllister of Mount Zion AME; the Reverend Charles Deutsch, pastor for Ironville United Methodist Church and head of the Columbia ministerium; Columbia Borough Police Chief Jack Brommer, and Officers Brent Keyser and Troy Engle.

Columbia woman charged with three counts of retail theft

Rhonda Lynn Diehl

Rhonda Lynn Diehl, 44, of Columbia was charged with three counts of retail theft after several recent incidents at Musser's Market in Columbia. 

On Monday, July 25, 2016, Diehl took items from the store and went out through a cashier lane that was not opened. Police identified her through surveillance footage. On Wednesday, July 27, police were called back to Musser's for another retail theft involving the same person. Diehl fled from the store by going out the entrance as someone entered the store prior to police arrival. On July 28, Diehl had sixteen items in her purse and attempted to apply for a job. A source tells the Spy that store personnel set up a fake job interview to detain her until police arrived. 

Diehl was picked up by police that day in the store and was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Miles Bixler.

NAACP in Columbia to denounce violence

Community leaders led by the NAACP - including church leaders and law enforcement officials - stood in solidarity outside a Columbia church on Tuesday to denounce violence in their community, particularly violence against police.

MORE HERE:
LINK

Columbia police reach out to community

Columbia Borough Police reach out to the community in this LNP article:

LINK

Shooting incident makes it to Police Magazine

News of last Friday's shooting incident made it into policemag.com, an online law enforcement publication.

GO HERE:
LINK

Friends and family seek answers on shooting

MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/insider/friends-family-seek-answers-on-why-columbia-teenagers-shot-at/article_402660b8-5845-11e6-a31f-cf7630330579.html

The article also states:

"In August 2015, he was involved in afight over a Confederate flag at Sixth and Locust streets. Rentas removed a flag from the back of a truck, his mother confirmed Monday afternoon."

(Actually, the incident occurred at Sixth and Walnut. Columbia Spy first made the connection between the two incidents in a previous article.)

NAACP Statement On The Shooting Of Police Officers In Columbia, Pennsylvania

August 01, 2016

Baltimore, MD -Today, NAACP President and CEO Cornell William Brooks released the following statement after the arrest of Marquell Rentas and Trenton Nace in the non-fatal shooting of four police officers in Columbia, Pennsylvania.

'Yet again as a nation we are an unwilling witness to alleged violence against the police. While much is yet unknown in the circumstances of the arrests of Marquell Rentas and Trenton Nace, the NAACP is profoundly concerned about hostile actions against police and committed to nonviolent means of change.

'The NAACP is committed to ending moments such as this by steadfastly condemning brutal violence against the police and police misconduct. Neither form of violence is an excuse for the other. Such realities go against the values of America and the values of the NAACP.

'The events in Columbia this weekend are disheartening, but this particular incident creates an opportunity to improve police-community relations, thankfully without having to mourn the loss of life. We commend the efforts of the Lancaster County NAACP and local law enforcement, and echo their call for community dialogue in this time of turmoil. While we gather further details on the two teenagers charged we offer our support to all citizens of Columbia, Pennsylvania.

National Night Out Tuesday August 2

Everyone is welcome to attend the 4th Annual National Night Out event on Tuesday, August 2, 2016 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Glatfelter Memorial Field. The Borough will have a recycling booth with free items for the kids.

Candidate criticizes borough council appointment process

Columbian Joe Nikolaus was one of several candidates to run unsuccessfully for recently vacated council seats.  Nikolaus offered the following assessment of the process and of council: 

Columbia Borough not cowed by lawyers

In a recent letter to the editor to LNP, Columbia Borough Manager Greg Sahd responded to a recent article that suggested the borough was cowed by LNP's lawyers.

Sahd stated: "Columbia is a heritage-rich yet financially poor community. We believe in providing our community with every opportunity to tell us how to spend its hard-earned money. And it did. By a margin of nearly 3 to 1, citizens asked Columbia Borough Council to continue advertising with LNP, even though it cost them and fellow taxpayers twice as much. We respect our citizens’ wishes.

We stayed with LNP not because of your Philadelphia lawyers’ attempt to intimidate us, but only because of the respect we have for the voices of Columbia’s citizens whom we ultimately serve."

The full text of the letter is HERE.

The original article is HERE.

Shooting picked up by pro-gun site - and more info

Friday morning's shooting incident in Columbia in which two teens shot at police officers has been picked up by an online publication titled Bearing Arms, which is apparently affiliated with the National Rifle Association.  The article's pro-gun slant unfortunately devolves into a slam against the press for creating a culture that puts police lives in danger.

The article states, in part: "This attempted assassination of Columbia, PA police is being largely ignored by a mainstream media attempting to dodge responsibility for the officers they’ve put at risk by crafting anti-police narratives . . ."

The complete article is HERE.

The following information is from the Columbia Borough Police Department's Crimewatch page:

 

Marquell Robert Rentas

Marquell Robert Rentas, 17 of Columbia as an adult with the following charges after an incident on 07-29-16.

Attempted Criminal Homicide of Law Enforcement Officer
Conspiracy to commit Criminal Homicide of Law Enforcement Officer
Aggravated Assault
Assault of Law Enforcement Officer
Possession of Firearm by Minor
Recklessly Endangering Another Person

Case Number:
3312107-29-16
Arrest Date:
Friday, July 29, 2016

Charges:
Criminal Attempt at Criminal Homicide of Law Enforcement Officer
Aggravated Assault
Assault of Law Enforcement Officer
Possession of Firearm by Minor
Recklessly Endangering another Person

Source:
Columbia Borough Police Department

Trenton Michael Nace

Trenton Michael Nace, 18 of Columbia was charged with the following after an incident that occurred on 07-29-16 at approx. 3:25AM.

Attempted Criminal Homicide
Conspiracy to commit Criminal Homicide of Law Enforcement Officer
Aggravated Assault
Assault of Law Enforcement Officer
Recklessly Endangering Another Person

Case Number:
33121-07-29-16
Arrest Date:
Friday, July 29, 2016

Charges:
Attempted Homicide of Police Officer
Aggravated Assault
Assault of Law Enforcement Officer
Recklessly Endangering another Person

Source:
Columbia Borough Police Department

On Friday morning, Columbia Spy twice observed Trenton Nace being allowed outside behind the Columbia Police Station for a "smoke break," each time accompanied by an officer. Both times, Nace behaved defiantly toward members of the press, who were standing at a nearby parking lot.

River Park to be closed all day Monday August 8

Charged shooter Marquell Rentas reportedly part of previous local controversy

Marquell Rentas, who is currently facing multiple charges resulting from Friday morning's shooting incident on Bethel Street, was also involved in last summer's Confederate flag controversy in Columbia.

Multiple sources allege that the teen waving a flag in THIS VIDEO in an LNP article is Rentas.

A source tells Columbia Spy that this photo from last summer's protest in Columbia is Rentas:

Columbia Spy covered the protest HERE.

More recently, a reader submitted the following photos allegedly showing Rentas and Trenton Nace, who was also charged in the shooting, apparently trying to set fire to plywood on the 300 block of Avenue H, behind the abandoned Hotel Locust building. The plywood displayed spray-painted racist graffiti.

The post that includes the photos shown above is found HERE.

A YouTube channel under the name "Marquell Rentas" features the video shown below:

Shooting suspects - Info on charges filed

Marquell Robert Rentas, 17, of 244 Walnut St., and Trenton Michael Nace, 18, of 116 Lancaster Ave., are charged with several counts of attempted homicide of a law-enforcement officer, aggravated assault, assault of a law-enforcement officer and several counts of conspiracy. Both were charged as adults.

Documents (affidavits, criminal complaints) detailing the charges can be accessed here:

Marquell Robert Rentas

Trenton Michael Nace

Additional Information

DA Stedman press conference on shooting incident

Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman held a press conference Saturday morning, July 30, at Columbia Borough Hall to release details of Friday morning's shooting.

Marquell Robert Rentas, 17, of 244 Walnut St., and Trenton Michael Nace, 18, of 116 Lancaster Ave., are charged with attempted homicide of a law-enforcement officer, aggravated assault, assault of a law-enforcement officer and several counts of conspiracy. Both were charged as adults.

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Friday morning update from SERT spokesman

Tom Rudzinski, public information officer for the Lancaster County SERT Team, provides update on Columbia, PA shooting incident that occurred  Friday morning, July 29, 2016.

(This video was filmed by Columbia Spy the same morning.)

A press conference with update information is scheduled for Saturday morning.

Shooting incident - No updates from PD; Press conference tomorrow

Currently, there are no additional updates on this morning's shooting incident. Columbia Borough Police Chief Jack Brommer said a press conference will be  held Saturday morning at 9 a.m. at Borough Hall.

UPDATE: PERSON OF INTEREST IN CUSTODY

Update shooter incident Person of Interest now in custody. More to follow.

Lancaster City Police in Columbia for shooter incident

Lancaster City Police were at the 700 block of Chestnut Street Friday morning for reports of an active shooter.

               (Photos by Stephanie Weisser)

BREAKING NEWS: Active shooter in Columbia - stay indoors

BREAKING NEWS: ACTIVE SHOOTER IN COLUMBIA

DO NOT LEAVE YOUR HOUSE.

PRELIMINARY REPORTS FRIDAY MORNING:

SHOOTER REPORTEDLY SHOT AT POLICE.

600-900 BLOCKS BETWEEN CHESTNUT AND LOCUST ARE SHUT DOWN.

SERT TEAM ON SCENE.

National Night Out August 2

Woman clipped by motorcycle

Police and emergency personnel were dispatched to the 100 block of North Third Street at approximately 9:45 a.m. for a medical emergency. Sources tell the Spy that a female walked out in front of a motorcycle and was "clipped" but all involved declined medical treatment.

SCCA limited hours July 18 - Aug. 25

The Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts will have limited hours July 18 - August 25 and is open by appointment only.

SCCA is following the European Model for this time of the year and will reopen Friday, August 26 at 5 p.m. for Katy Winter's solo show in the main gallery.

Milt Friedly Show at North Museum August 5

Milt Friedly, Co-Owner, Curator and Director of the Susquehanna Center for the Creative Arts will show his Printmaking at the North Museum, Lancaster, PA.

Milt Friedly received his BFA from Arizona State University in Ceramics and Printmaking and his MFA from the University of Wyoming in Printmaking and Sculpture. He has been showing professionally since 1980. His work has been included in exhibitions regionally, nationally and internationally. His work has been commissioned for public and private art collections. His work is very diverse in media and approach and recently makes commentary on consumption and the human condition.

He is Professor of Art at Elizabethtown College where he has been teaching since 1987.

Columbia Borough Council fills 2 vacancies; no Democrats serve

John Novak and Fran FitzGerald were selected to replace Mary Barninger and Barry Ford. Both terms began July 11 and end the first Monday in 2018.
MORE:
http://lancasteronline.com/insider/community/columbia-borough-council-fills-vacancies-no-democrats-serve/article_74cbe826-5280-11e6-a715-e71ff7431ce5.html