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Cops, Courts & Fire -Bristol Borough

Garden Street Collision Driver Sentenced to Probation, Community Service, Sources Say

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The now 18 year-old who was charged as a minor for crashing into a mini van filled with occupants in Bristol Borough last April was sentenced to probation and community service, multiple sources reported Wednesday.

Two days of court proceedings took place at the Justice Center in Doylestown the community  sources said.

Bucks County District Attorney’s office Spokesman Manuel Gamiz said Wednesday his office could not comment at all on the proceedings or its outcome.

Gamiz said based upon the crimes involved the DA’s office is precluded by the Juvenile Act from releasing information publicly.

The DA’s office did release arrest information in May to the publication about the aggravated assault case filed.  In response to the follow up query, Gamiz said, the  Chief of Juvenile Prosecution said under the juvenile law, certain cases are designated for limited public availability.

The Act is designed to protect the identity of minors across an array of publicly involved situations.

Credit: Submitted Anonymously

The collision which took place after a high speed chase through Bristol Township and into Bristol Borough, culminating with the minor crashing the blue BMW he was operating  head-on into a mini van filled with girls who were going got donuts after a Friday night sleepover.

The underage operator and two passengers attempted to flee after slamming into vehicle at the intersection of Jefferson and Garden Streets, but with state and local Police in hot pursuit, they were taken into custody and transported quickly to headquarters.

The “mass casualty crash brought a slew of first responders to the scene adjacent to the SEPTA Bristol  Regional Rail Station and the Jefferson Avenue baseball fields.

Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source

Bristol area First Responders had to cut the top of the min van off in order to rescue an entrapped victim of the crash, later identified as Ciara Anderson.

She spoke with Lower Bucks Source exclusively days after the crash said she was “truly grateful” for the rescue efforts of a Bucks County Rescue Squad paramedic who kept her calm throughout the rescue.

Credit: Submitted

The first responders who extricated Anderson from the mini van were loudly cheered by bystanders as she was  placed onto a stretcher and transported to the hospital. Three others were also transported to medical facilities for treatment in “serious condition.”

Samara Kitchens, whose daughter Rezauna was one of the mini van passengers called the crash “a mothers worst nightmare.”

Three suspects were taken into custody that night of the crash, with no charges filed against any of them as investigators from the State Police, Borough Police and the District Attorney’s office spoke with witnesses and collected evidence.

Hours after the collision Bristol Borough Police Sgt Chuck Palmer while on patrol located a hand gun and bullets at the intersection of Old Route 13 and Mill Street. The area was taped off as officers were seen searching for additional evidence. Investigative sources told LBS the hand gun was allegedly thrown out the window by an occupant of the blue BMW and was being sent for DNA testing.

Credit: Jeff Bohen, Lower Bucks Source

Gamiz referred the publication back to the Bristol Borough Police Department (BBPD) for comment and information with regards to the vehicle passengers, and alleged gun link.

The victim’s family member  expressed frustration with the pace and progress of the  investigation but declined to comment on the outcome of the case, Wednesday.

What is known is at least two of injured still require intensive medical treatment.

Calls to BBPD were unsuccessful late Wednesday afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cops, Courts & Fire - Yardley Borough

County Cuts Ribbon on New Treatment Facility Focused on Stakeholders with Co-Occurring Disorders Involved in Criminal Justice System

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Bucks County last month held a ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil the newly constructed Diversion, Assessment, Restoration and Treatment (DART) Center in Doylestown Township.

Expected to begin accepting residents this month, the 23,000 square-foot facility will serve adults with serious mental illness and co-occurring substance use issues who are involved with the criminal justice system.

“We have wanted to do something about this problem – to get people diverted from the criminal justice system,” said Commissioner Chair Diane Ellis-Marseglia, LCSW. “But one piece of the puzzle was missing. It was this place.”

Through treatment and skill development, the Center will operate with the goals of diverting people from incarceration, reducing days of incarceration, reducing utilization of State institutions and reducing recidivism.

The DART Center houses three distinct tracks within this Residential Treatment Center for Adults:

  • Short-Term Assessment and Stabilization – A safe transitional opportunity assessment and referral (up to eight individuals)
  • Restoration of Competency Unit – For individuals involved in the criminal justice system who have been deemed Incompetent to Stand Trial (up to four individuals)
  • Community Integration  A space for individuals in need of treatment and daily living skill development to support movement to more independent living in the community (up to 16 individuals)

At full capacity, the DART can simultaneously serve up to 28 people.

Bucks County has hired the GEO Group to manage day-to-day operations at the DART Center, with oversight from Bucks County BH/DP.

“Right now, there’s a person, maybe more than one, who doesn’t even know that the DART Center exists. They are somewhere hard, in a cell somewhere, trying to get through another day [in a world] that has told them they’re too complicated to help,” said Dr. Mathew Abraham, Senior Director of Treatment and Program Development for GEO. “That person is going to find their way here, and when they do, they will walk through a door that says, ‘we see you, you are worth all of this.’”

Located on the grounds of the former Women’s Community Corrections Center, construction on the DART began in late 2023.

Credit: Submitted

The total projected cost to build the facility is about $19.8 million. The County has paid for the construction with a combination of mostly federal and state funds, with about $1.8 million coming from the County’s General Fund.

“Today marks an important milestone for Bucks County, because we are not simply opening a building,” said General Services Director Bernard Griggs. “We are opening a pathway to a more compassionate, affective approach to mental health and criminal justice.

General contracting work on the project was performed by Magnum, Inc., with architecture services by USA Architects, engineering by Carroll Engineering and Windward, electrical work by the Farfield Company, mechanical services by Integrity Mechanical, Inc., plumbing services by Vision Mechanical, fire protection work by Guy M. Cooper Mechanical and construction management by Jingoli.

Commissioner Vice Chair Bob Harvie, speaking  to a crowd of County officials and community stakeholders gathered to mark the DART’s opening, reflected on the questions that drove the facility’s planning years before its construction.

“What could we do on this spot that could make a difference?” he said. “What can we do on this spot that has meaning for people who really need help at a time that might be the lowest in their lives, that serves a purpose, and helps law enforcement and the criminal justice system appropriately handle people who shouldn’t be in a prison, but end up there because there is nowhere else to go?”

The DART Center is just the latest effort by the County to improve mental health services for Bucks County residents, especially those whose illness brings them into contact with the criminal justice system.

One ongoing effort is the award-winning Human Services Co-Responders Program, which embeds social workers in police departments to assist officers when encountering people in need of social services. Since launching in 2020 with the Bensalem Police Department, the program has expanded to serve more than two dozen police departments countywide.

In partnership with the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, the County has also established specialized court programs to address the unique needs of qualifying offenders, including Recovery Court, Wellness Court and Veterans Treatment Court. These programs have been nationally recognized and are instructive for similar programs across the country.

PHOTO: Jeff Contino, Director of the Diversion, Assessment, Restoration and Treatment (DART) Center, on Feb. 25, 2026, leads Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan, Sheriff Danny Ceisler, Prothonotary Donna Petrecco and others in a tour of the newly completed facility. Credit: Submitted

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Bristol Borough

Bristol Boro Street Sweeper Returns April 6th

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The Bristol Borough Street Sweeper will be back in action to clean borough streets beginning Thursday April, 6 2026, officials announced.

Parking restrictions will begin on the same date with $15.00 parking tickets for violators, starting April 30

Street sweeping zones throughout the borough are marked.

Please be courteous and observe the times prosted for parking restrictions on all streets for sweeping on Thursday & Friday and help keep your street clean, Bristol officials said.

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Bristol Borough

Montco Man Jailed for Threatening Bristol Police, Harassing 911 Operators

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Bristol Borough Police arrested and jailed a man who stands accused of threatening police and harassing 911 emergency operators.

*David J. Chichilitti arraigned James F. Dicicco, 50, on one felony count of false calls to 911, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, and three additional misdemeanor offenses on March 5. Dicicco was remanded to the custody of Bucks County Correctional Facility as he was unable to post the 10 percent of $45,000.00 bail set by Chichilitti.

According to the probable cause, on November 30, 2025, Dicicco allegedly made numerous phone calls to the non-emergency phone line of Bucks County Communications (911) utilizing two phone numbers 215-317-**** and 610-828-**** directed for/towards Bristol Borough Police Department.

The calls were not of an emergency or non-emergency nature, police said and were made explicitly to harass communication staff and threaten Levitsky and Bristol Borough Police Department members.

The calls started at about 11 p.m. on November 30, 2025 and ended on December 1, 2025 at about 4:30 a.m.

The calls were logged with initial remarks of the calls noted in the criminal complaint as noted below.

November 30, 2025:
At 11:20 p.m., Dicicco called Bucks County Communications and identified himself “Go fuck yourself Jim.” Remarks in the call: “Eat a D**k …. NFl.”

At 11:24 p.m., the caller ID said, “Patrick Dicicco” and 610-828-****. “Patrick Dicicco, says Ofc. Levitsky, lives on Radcliffe Street in the little blue house right behind the bridge and he’ll (Dicicco) be there tonight.”

At 11:34 p.m., Dicicco called the non-emergency line. “Asking someone familiar to call him, said 24 PD could “Suck-a-D**k” and was irate/curt at intake. Intake terminated non-emergency call after he said dispatch could “Suck-a-D**k” and was a f**king moron:

December 1, 2025:
At 1:27 a.m., “Tell Officer Levitsky he is going to get suckered punched at the stroll and to be on the lookout.”

At 1:38 a.m., “Making threats that officer needs to watch his back.”

At 2:02 a.m. “Compl (Dicicco) call backed requesting dispatch who said he made threats against officer and then was irate that dispatch couldn’t transfer to pd .. in between cursing/yelling, compl stated to tell Ofc. Levitsky he will gladly meet him., call was transferred to supervisor.”

At 2:14 a.m., “Angry that Sgt. called him from a blocked number and alleges he was threatened by federal agents.”

At 2:28 a.m., “Called for Sgt. numerous times.”

At 2:32 a.m., “Requested the Sgt’s name and badge number .. wanted Bristol Borough number … says he hopes (911) intakes’ mother dies and Officer Levitsky’s mother dies.”

At 2:37 a.m., “Calling and apologizing and then stated Sgt. threatened him stating he is homeless and currently living on his sailboat .. told intake “suck my d**k” yet again .. flipped back and forth between saying he can call all night and that he won’t be calling again., keeps asking for direct number to 2452.”

At 2:57 a.m., “Was calling the Sgt. names .. said that the officers “should watch their backs” saying they can “suck my dick” .. told intake to “Fuck off.”

At 3:03 a.m., “Tell that (racial slur) he ain’t catching me at shift change- tell your Sgt. to call me now.”

At 3:33 a.m., “Irate he requested a call from Sgt., says he was threatened by a federal agent.”

At 3:37 a.m., “Irate he  requested for a call from Sgt., says he was threatened by a federal agent.”

Levitsky and Faight were notified of calls directed towards and for them.

Because of the nature of the calls, threats and prior contact with Dicicco, Bristol Borough Police Department and Bristol Township Police Department maintained surveillance of Levitsky overnight because of potential threats to his safety and well being, investigators said in the probable cause.

Dicicco, according to police, beginning in October of 2024 and continuing to December 1, 2025 has been threatening and violent towards police officers and the general public when under the influence of drugs, alcohol and due to apparent mental health issues.

*Dicicco on the same date was arraigned in a second case by Bristol Borough Police on charges of simple assault, terroristic threats, public drunkenness and related offenses connected to a incident that occurred on Oct 11.

Dicicco, according to online court records is represented by Gregg David Shore, Esq. of  Pinnacle Legal Services in Bensalem.

Editor’s Note: It is not clearly outlined or identified why Mr. Dicicco, who is from Blue Bell, PA targeted Borough Police or what his connection to Bristol is.

 

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