Thursday, October 18, 2018

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

UPDATE on robbery at Chestnut Street Turkey Hill store: Two juveniles arrested

On 10-15-18 the Columbia Borough Police charged two juvenile males, 14 and 15 years of age with Robbery and Conspiracy to Commit Robbery for the incident at the Turkey Hill. Both males are from Columbia and were committed to the Lancaster County Youth Intervention Center.

On 10-14-18 at approx. 1:38AM the Columbia Borough Police were called to the Turkey Hill on Chestnut St. for a robbery. The two suspects fled prior to police arrival. The suspects were reported to have come to the store from east side of the store and also fled to the same area. One of the males involved did display a handgun. The suspects took a small amount of cash and cigarettes during the robbery.

Suspect #1 is described as a light skinned male wearing blue gym shorts, black "Vans" sneakers with white laces and a black hooded jacket.

Suspect #2 is described as a light skinned male wearing light gray jeans, black sneakers with white laces and a black hooded jacket.

Both males suspects were possibly in their late teens and approx. 5'7".

The Columbia Borough Police ask that if you recognize any of the above pictured individuals or know anything about this case to please either submit a tip below or call the police department at 717-684-7735.

Date: 
Sunday, October 14, 2018

Case Status:

Case Type:


https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/robbery-update-10-16-18

Democratic candidate for PA House supports Opioid Crisis Action Network for substance use patients



Mary Auker-Endres, Democratic Party candidate for PA State Representative, 98th District, is one of the first 65 PA candidates to date to endorse the Opioid Crisis Action Network’s policy platform which would mandate medical best practices treatment be provided to those suffering from substance use disorder and that this level of care be covered by private health insurance policies, Medicaid and Medicare.

OCAN is pleased to report that Mary Auker-Endres supports our five-plank policy platform mandating (1) coverage of a long-term continuum of care of no less than ninety days (2) coverage of medication-assisted treatment (3) that no patient suffering from effects of substance use disorder reporting to a treatment facility be refused treatment, whether or not he or she is intoxicated (4) the regulation of sober living homes and (5) that all prisons provide drug treatment programs adhering to medical best practices.

Auker-Endres and 64 other PA leaders (so far) recognize that providing and covering the cost of anything less than medical best practices is a gross violation of a 2008 federal law, the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act, which mandated an end to discriminatory practices against the mentally ill and addicted. OCAN admires these leaders for standing up to powerful special interests, most notably private insurance companies and their political action committees (PACS), that seem to have a stranglehold on legislatures nationwide, preventing these common sense reforms.

The Opioid Crisis Action Network (OCAN) was founded in January, 2018, by Heather and Larry Arata after the overdose death of their 23-year-old son, Brendan, to research and promote solutions to this public health emergency. Over 72,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2017, up 7% from 2016 and double the total from a decade ago. OCAN will also write grants for those suffering from substance use disorder who cannot afford treatment. Checks will be written to state certified treatment centers. For more details, to see the other 91 candidates nationwide who have endorsed OCAN’s platform so far or to make a donation, go to opioidcrisisactionnetwork.com.

[Source: Press release]

Columbia Police make several recent drug busts

Columbia Borough Police Chief Jack Brommer presented a report to council last week detailing several recent drug-related investigations in and around Columbia. The Columbia Borough Police Department worked closely with the Lancaster County Drug Task Force on these investigations:

  • A search warrant was issued and a search conducted on the 500 block of Avenue N (near Makle Park). As a result, two subjects were arrested and later sent to Lancaster County Prison for possession with intent to deliver of over 200 grams of methamphetamine (street value: $23,000) and 160 bags of heroin. A loaded, stolen 9mm pistol was also recovered. 
  • As a result, a second investigation was undertaken outside the borough, and a second search warrant was served. 75 grams of bulk heroin was recovered (street value: $22,500), representing approximately 2,250 bags of heroin. A 12-gauge shotgun was also recovered. 
  • A raid was also conducted in late September on the 900 block of Manor Street, in which one subject arrested, and heroin and other drugs were recovered, along with a gun.
 The September 2018 police report is shown below:


Agenda and Report - Public Works & Property Committee

Meeting Agenda, October 16, 2018




Public Works Report, September 2018







Monday, October 15, 2018

Takeaways from the October Columbia Borough Council Meeting

Council unanimously disapproved a request for the inter-municipal transfer of a catering club license for the 717 Social Club at 401 South 2nd Street. The license would have allowed the club to charge for alcoholic beverages. Currently, drinks are paid for by donation. The borough solicitor will present “findings of fact and conclusions of law” in support of the decision at the November 12 council meeting. 



Council voted to “de-prioritize” the purchase of the McGinness property on Manor Street from its economic development plan. Specs on the property can be found HERE.




Council voted to release $100,000 to the Columbia Borough Fire Department from the department’s capital improvement escrow fund for the purchase of new fire equipment. 



Council voted to consent to the acquisition by the Lancaster County Land Bank Authority of the following borough properties: 
  • 32 South 9th Street (vacant for over two years) 
  • 838 Houston Street (vacant for one year, condemned January 2016) 
  • 318 South 3rd Street (vacant for three years) 
  • 332 Locust Street (condemned May 2017) 



Council passed a resolution (shown above) to oppose PA House Bill 2564, the "Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act." According to solicitor Barry Handwerger, the bill would significantly limit local legislative rights over rights of way and could allow proliferation of antennas, poles, etc. without permit requests or approval from the municipality and would strip the right to regulate zoning. State Rep. Frank A. Farry introduced the bill, the text of which is HERE.  His memorandum on the bill is HERE.




Council voted to adopt an amendment to the borough code to revise the definition of “Alteration” for properties in the historic district. The text of the amendment is shown above.

Chestnut Street Turkey Hill store robbed, one suspect displays handgun



On 10-14-18 at approx. 1:38AM the Columbia Borough Police were called to the Turkey Hill on Chestnut St. for a robbery. The two suspects fled prior to police arrival. The suspects were reported to have come to the store from east side of the store and also fled to the same area. One of the males involved did display a handgun. The suspects took a small amount of cash and cigarettes during the robbery.
Suspect #1 is described as a light skinned male wearing blue gym shorts, black "Vans" sneakers with white laces and a black hooded jacket.
Suspect #2 is described as a light skinned male wearing light gray jeans, black sneakers with white laces and a black hooded jacket.
Both males suspects were possibly in their late teens and approx. 5'7".
The Columbia Borough Police ask that if you recognize any of the above pictured individuals or know anything about this case to please either submit a tip below or call the police department at 717-684-7735.
Date: 
Sunday, October 14, 2018

Case Status:

Case Type:


https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/robbery-2