A Lancaster County judge set bail at $1 million for some of the protesters arrested for arson and riot-related charges early Monday morning following the police shooting of 27-year-old Ricardo Munoz.
The protesters are each charged with felony arson, riot and vandalism charges, among other protest-related charges. At least six of the eight people arrested Monday morning had bail set at $1 million by Magisterial District Judge Bruce Roth on Monday night, according to court documents. One of the protesters was not eligible for bail, and another person’s docket had not yet been updated.
An additional five people - four adults and one juvenile - were arrested on Monday after further investigation, police announced Tuesday. They are still waiting for a judge to set their bail.
The $1 million bail quickly came under fire from Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania and a local advocacy group, with Fetterman calling it “blatantly unconstitutional” and an infringement on the protesters’ Eighth Amendment right against excessive bail.
Fetterman noted that the officer charged with killing George Floyd was held on $1 million bail.
He was alerted to the issue after Lancaster Stands Up called on Fetterman and other elected officials to intervene, sharing the picture and story of one of the arrested -- Taylor Enterline, 20, a West Chester University student who has been leading protests and advocacy in Manheim for the last several months.
“It’s self-evidently unconstitutional,” Fetterman said. “Whatever the merit of the underlying charges, what is absolutely indefensible is a million dollar bail for those charges.”
Roth should reconsider this bail amount, Fetterman said.
Roth said he could not comment on these cases, but that he considered Lancaster city police’s input when setting bail. Affidavits for the protesters’ arrests were not immediately made available.
City police did not request the bail amount, said Lt. Bill Hickey, the public information officer for the bureau. The District Attorney's office did not provide any input regarding bail, spokesperson Brett Hambright said in an email.
The protesters are charged with several felony offenses, which are considered in the judge's equation when deciding bail, as well as the input of police.
"The crimes that these defendants are facing include serious felony offenses," Hickey said in an email. "This is not a new or unheard of practice and falls within the rules of criminal procedure."
Four of the people arrested Monday morning were from outside Lancaster County. Two of the people are experiencing homelessness, according to city police. Matthew Modderman, one of the people arrested, is employed by LNP | LancasterOnline as a client services representatives in the Client Solutions department.
The suspects allegedly piled wood, metal street signs and trash bags to light on fire at the intersection of Chestnut and Prince streets, according to city police.
Reggie Shuford, the executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, in a statement called the bail orders “unacceptable,” and said the state ACLU wants answers from Lancaster County District Attorney Heather Adams and Roth. Adams’ office said it did not add any input about bail for these cases.
“The one million dollar cash bail orders for several young Black Lives Matter protesters last night is an egregious and unacceptable abuse of the bail system,” Shuford said. “Cash bail should never be used to deter demonstrators and chill speech.”
The ACLU of Pennsylvania is advising local counsel to file emergency motions in response to these bail orders, its director of communications Andy Hoover said in an email.
Whether the charges are merited, Fetterman said he believes this high bail is going to “further inflame and escalate what needs to be a peaceful protest and a resolution of the tragedy.”
Tuesday, September 15, 2020
COLUMBIA BOROUGH DEEDS RECORDED AUG. 31 - SEPT. 4
The estate of Susan J. Vera conveyed property on Maple St. to Jason P. Gill for $149,900.
Benjamin L. Gerlach and Susannah M. Gerlach conveyed 220 Pheasant Drive to Kelsey E. Winters for $175,000.
Richard E. Sacks and Cathy H. Sacks conveyed 116 N. Fourth St. to Jonathan Colon Fernandez and Jonathan Colon Fernandez for $174,000.
420 Restorations LLC and Dawn Smith conveyed 703 Chestnut St. to Evan M. Himes and Sarah Lanphier for $248,000.
Benjamin L. Gerlach and Susannah M. Gerlach conveyed 220 Pheasant Drive to Kelsey E. Winters for $175,000.
Richard E. Sacks and Cathy H. Sacks conveyed 116 N. Fourth St. to Jonathan Colon Fernandez and Jonathan Colon Fernandez for $174,000.
420 Restorations LLC and Dawn Smith conveyed 703 Chestnut St. to Evan M. Himes and Sarah Lanphier for $248,000.
Mount Joy Borough Council fires Samuel Sulkosky as borough manager - (Sulkosky is a former Columbia Borough manager)
When: Mount Joy Borough Council virtual meeting, Sept. 14.
What happened: Council terminated Samuel Sulkosky as borough manager and appointed Charles "Casey" Krause as interim manager, secretary and open records officer — positions formerly held by Sulkosky.
Council statement: No explanation was given for this action. When queried by email after the meeting, Council President William Hall replied, "On Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, Mount Joy Borough Council voted to terminate the employment of Samuel F. Sulkosky as Borough Manager effective immediately and authorize the appropriate Borough officials to make legally required payments to Mr. Sulkosky for unused vacation time and other required items. Because this is a personnel issue, Mount Joy Borough will have no further statements on this matter."
Interim manager background: A resident of Mount Joy Borough and a graduate of Donegal High School, Krause is well known in the Mount Joy region where he served for 36 years in various municipal posts. He was a police officer in both Mount Joy Borough and Mount Joy Township, chief of both Mount Joy Township and the Northwest Regional police departments, and Mount Joy Township manager before retiring in 2016. Council decided to compensate Krause at $1,565 per week, the same level as Sulkosky. Council member Brian Youngerman thanked Sulkosky, who was not present, for his four years of service as borough manager citing several achievements such as his funds investment program. Prior to coming to Mount Joy, Sulkosky held positions as borough manager in Columbia, California and Nanty Glo boroughs.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/mount-joy-borough-council-fires-samuel-sulkosky-as-borough-manager-appoints-interim-manager/article_a0aea6be-f77b-11ea-9502-431b92612f41.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share
What happened: Council terminated Samuel Sulkosky as borough manager and appointed Charles "Casey" Krause as interim manager, secretary and open records officer — positions formerly held by Sulkosky.
Council statement: No explanation was given for this action. When queried by email after the meeting, Council President William Hall replied, "On Monday, Sept. 14, 2020, Mount Joy Borough Council voted to terminate the employment of Samuel F. Sulkosky as Borough Manager effective immediately and authorize the appropriate Borough officials to make legally required payments to Mr. Sulkosky for unused vacation time and other required items. Because this is a personnel issue, Mount Joy Borough will have no further statements on this matter."
Interim manager background: A resident of Mount Joy Borough and a graduate of Donegal High School, Krause is well known in the Mount Joy region where he served for 36 years in various municipal posts. He was a police officer in both Mount Joy Borough and Mount Joy Township, chief of both Mount Joy Township and the Northwest Regional police departments, and Mount Joy Township manager before retiring in 2016. Council decided to compensate Krause at $1,565 per week, the same level as Sulkosky. Council member Brian Youngerman thanked Sulkosky, who was not present, for his four years of service as borough manager citing several achievements such as his funds investment program. Prior to coming to Mount Joy, Sulkosky held positions as borough manager in Columbia, California and Nanty Glo boroughs.
https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/mount-joy-borough-council-fires-samuel-sulkosky-as-borough-manager-appoints-interim-manager/article_a0aea6be-f77b-11ea-9502-431b92612f41.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share
Sunday, September 13, 2020
About Town 9/13/2020
This week's photos of Columbia
(Tap or click on photos to see larger, sharper images.)
(Tap or click on photos to see larger, sharper images.)
Chess in the park on a Sunday afternoon
(Sounds like a song title.)
Reaching for the sky
Black Lives Matter at Park Elementary
Borough truck down along Riverfront Drive
The highway department was hard at work along the shoreline.
Painting at the municipal building by L. Weber
Prep work
No, he's not one of the "Hole in the Wall" gang.
He's working at the former Northwest Bank building. The hole is where the ATM used to be.
The project apparently even has full approval.
Halloween is coming, but there's no need to rush it.
Avenue G parking lot was blacktopped. Now it's been lined for parking spaces.
Flag down at the bridge plaza
The grass is coming back at the 4th & Locust lot.
On the 400 block of Cherry Street.
How was this ever allowed?
On street sweeping days, residents on the other side of the street
have to leave the block to park their cars.
Free books at Mullen Books
Cat in the window
Apple thief caught creeping
Ultraman at Cooper Comics at 5th & Locust
The eel truck down at the boat ramp
Several eels were released into the Susquehanna.
Unfortunately, they were so small and few and far between that they couldn't be seen easily.
Political flags on South 2nd
The flag deposit box on the 400 block of Chestnut is full.
Trying for altitude
A stab of sunlight on the channel
Flags in support of firefighters
Clock(s) at the watch & clock museum
Never forget 9/11
POW flag
Back the Blue
Engine No. 67 one lane over
A realtor's sign at the bridge plaza next to the commemorative bricks. No advertisements or other signs are to be put in this place of honor.
A non-controversial pink teddy bear
Here's a pumpkin in a diaper.
(Or is it a hammock?)
It's among others at the Park Elementary garden.
Here's a wider view.
And here are some lady legs in a window at 5th & Cherry
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