Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Multi-Agency Law Enforcement Operation Results in Arrests on South 5th Street


A joint law enforcement operation involving the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and local police departments resulted in the arrest of several individuals this afternoon in the 200 block of South 5th Street.

The operation, which began shortly after 2 p.m., involved officers from Columbia Borough Police and West Hempfield Township Police working alongside federal marshals. According to witnesses at the scene, law enforcement removed three adults—two males and one female—as well as three children from a residence during the hour-long operation. Police blocked traffic on most of the block.

The U.S. Marshals Service typically deploys fugitive task forces to apprehend individuals wanted on federal warrants or to assist local agencies with high-priority cases. The specific nature of the investigation and charges involved have not yet been disclosed by authorities.


Video: Scott Frederick 


The coordinated response between federal and local law enforcement agencies suggests the operation was related to an ongoing investigation. No injuries were reported during the incident.







Tuesday, June 10, 2025

Council tight-lipped on second borough manager to leave in under a year

The retirement of Steven Kaufhold (above) was announced at Tuesday's Columbia Borough Council meeting.  [Columbia Spy file photo]

Columbia Borough will be searching for new leadership once again after council announced the retirement of Borough Manager Steven Kaufhold at Tuesday night's regular meeting, marking the second departure from that position in less than a year. 

Councilwoman Barb Fisher acknowledged receipt of the resignation notice, without comment. Kaufhold, who attended the meeting, provided no further information, nor did council. 

In a 5-2 vote, council voted to advertise for a new borough manager. Councilors Eric Kauffman and Kelly Murphy cast the two votes against advertising the position. Again, no further information was provided. 

Resident Sharon Lintner asked who will do the interviews and if a headhunting service will be used to search for a new manager. Council President Heather Zink replied, "We haven't decided that. This literally just happened yesterday." Zink said council planned to discuss personnel issues at an executive session after the meeting. 

Kaufhold, who began as manager in September 2024 has served in the position for about eight months. His retirement comes after the borough invested $15,000 in a professional headhunting firm to fill the position vacated by Mark Stivers' resignation in July 2024.

Despite the search, Kaufhold was ultimately recruited through personal connections; a borough councilman who knew Kaufhold from his previous work with the borough recommended him for the position.

Kaufhold previously served Columbia Borough as code compliance manager from January 2017 to January 2019. Following his departure from the borough, he worked as a project manager and estimator for Lancaster County Housing & Redevelopment. 

The borough manager position isn't the only leadership role facing a vacancy, however. The borough is also operating without a finance manager after losing several individuals from that department consecutively, as Columbia Spy reported HERE. Council has not yet announced plans for a job search to fill the finance position.



ARMED ROBBERY - HELP IDENTIFY SUSPECTS | Columbia Borough Police Department


On June 10, 2025, at approximately 9:00 a.m., the Columbia Borough Police Department responded to an armed robbery at JK Mart, located at 846 Lancaster Avenue. Two male suspects, described as appearing to be black males, entered the store at around 8:25 a.m. and forcibly took various merchandise, cash from the register, and also damaged store property. The suspects, who were on foot, walked eastbound on Lancaster Avenue to approach the store and fled the store in the direction that they came from.  One of the suspects possessed a firearm and threatened the store clerk during the incident. 

Security camera footage reveals the following descriptions: 

Suspect 1: Wearing a black or dark gray Nike jacket, black Jordan Sneakers with purple accents, black pants, black gloves, and a black mask. This suspect fled the scene carrying a medium-sized cardboard box filled with stolen merchandise. 

Suspect 2: Wearing a gray zip-up hoodie, black jogger sweatpants, blue, orange, green, and white Nike Air Max 97s, and a blue mask. This suspect has hand tattoos and left the scene carrying a black duffle with the word "SPILL KIT" in yellow lettering. 

The Columbia Borough Police Department is urging citizens with security cameras in the area to review their footage between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. on June 10, 2025. 

If you observe anything that could relate to this incident or believe you saw something suspicious around that time, please contact the police department at 717-684-7735 or submit a tip to CrimeWatch.  Your assistance is crucial in helping us solve this crime and keep our community safe.










Location 846 Lancaster Ave. Columbia, PA 17512 
Date Jun 10, 2025 
Incident Type Robbery 
Reference ID CB-25-02469 
Case Status Current 
Case Type Criminal Case 
Region Eastern 
Created Jun 10th, 2025

Sourced via CRIMEWATCH®: https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd/10552/cases/armed-robbery-help-identify-suspects 

COLUMBIA BOROUGH POLICE NEED YOUR HELP TO IDENTIFY AN ATTEMPTED ROBBERY SUSPECT | Columbia Borough Police Department

 

The Columbia Borough Police Department needs your help to identify the robbery suspect in the picture. 

On Friday, 6/6/25, at approximately 10:08 pm, two suspects entered and attempted to rob a store in the 200 block of Locust Street. Both subjects were wearing black masks and black "hoodies". 

Suspect #1 was a light-skinned male, possibly a juvenile, who was wearing gray capri-style pants, a black hoodie with a female figure on the front, no shoes, and a black face mask.

Suspect #2 is a medium-skinned male wearing black sweatpants with a ride stripe down each side, a black hoodie, and a black face mask. 

If you recognize the male in the photo, please contact the Columbia Borough Police Department at 717-684-7735 or submit a tip on CrimeWatch at https://lancaster.crimewatchpa.com/columbiapd 
Location 200 BLOCK OF LOCUST STREET Columbia, PA 17512 
Date Jun 6, 2025 
Incident Type Robbery
Reference ID CB-25-02415/2506008167 
Case Status Current 
Case Type Criminal Case 
Region Northeastern 
Created Jun 10th, 2025


 

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - June 10, 2025

The agenda shown above is a revised agenda but is not listed as such on the borough website. The original agenda is shown below. 
The meeting packet is HERE.


Original agenda

Monday, June 9, 2025

Columbia Juneteenth BBQ Celebration to be held Sunday, June 15, at Lancaster Distilleries in Columbia


A Juneteenth BBQ Celebration will be held on Sunday, June 15, 2025 at Lancaster Distilleries in Columbia from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The celebration, hosted by Brad Chambers and Columbia Forward Together, will feature live music, food, games, and more.

“We are excited to be hosting Columbia’s Juneteenth BBQ Celebration at Lancaster Distilleries in Columbia,” said Columbia Resident and Event Host Brad Chambers. “This free, family-friendly event gives our residents an opportunity to not only celebrate black culture, community, and music, but an important milestone in history as well. Juneteenth celebrates the ending of slavery in the United States and gives our entire community a chance to learn more about African American history in America.”

Columbia’s Juneteenth BBQ Celebration will feature performances by the band MAMA TRIED and include guest speakers Mekkai Williams, Lancaster City Councilman Ahmed Ahmed, and State Representative Izzy Smith-Wade-El. The celebration will also showcase some of Columbia’s local business, food trucks including Piper Belle's BBQ and Spanish Island Foods, and resources from local organizations across the county. Admission is free, but donations are encouraged and will support advocacy for communities around Columbia and Lancaster. The event will be held rain or shine.


Columbia man sentenced up to 20 years in prison for sexually assaulting a minor | Local News | lancasteronline.com

Robert Fink Jr.
[Photo: Columbia Borough Police Department]

JACK PANYARD | LNP Staff Writer
A Columbia man will spend up to 20 years in state prison after being sentenced Monday for sexually assaulting a minor he gave marijuana to in 2023.

Robert Fink Jr., 44, pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a minor and six other charges after police said he assaulted a 13-year-old girl in his home in September 2023.

Lancaster County Judge Merrill Spahn sentenced Fink to 10 to 20 years in prison as part of a plea deal. Fink, his attorney Rian Thompson and Assistant District Attorney Jessica Collo did not give statements at the hearing.

A group of family members for the girl sat in court for the hearing. None of them gave a statement.

Police say the girl was visiting Fink's home on the evening of Sept. 9, 2023, where he gave her marijuana and began sexually assaulting the girl, ignoring her demands to stop.

Investigators found Fink's DNA on the girl and charged him in November 2024.