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Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Levittown Man Held on Firearm Charges Stemming From Philadelphia Altercation

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A Levittown man who got into verbal altercation in Philadelphia and is forbidden, due to a felony robbery conviction almost 25 years ago, is facing serious charges from Falls  Township Police.

Police were dispatched, on June 24 at approximately 1:30 p.m., to Poplar Lane in Levittown to assist the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD)  with an armed subject investigation, according to court records,. 

The officer said he was informed by PPD that the sole occupant of a white 2020 Honda Odyssey, bearing Pennsylvania registration “JCK 7288”, got into a fight with another subject, pulled a firearm from the rear seat area, and pointed it at the victim. 

The incident occurred at approximately 1:20 p.m. in Philadelphia. FTPD said,  the operator was described to them as a black male, with a beard, wearing a white shirt and black pants, The officer researched the Honda, found it was registered to a Poplar Lane address, and using the a License Plate Reader search  application, he learned the Honda was on Bristol Pike at Levittown Parkway at 1:14 p.m.

The officer said, he arrived at Poplar Lane and Pinewood Drive and observed the Honda parked in the driveway of the Poplar Lane residence. He also observed the subject, later identified as Jamal Harper, 48, entering the driver seat of the Honda, reverse out the driveway, and drive towards the patrol vehicle. The officer exited the patrol vehicle and waved at Harper, who stopped the Honda and spoke to the officer, said the probable cause.

The officer informed Harper of the investigation, which Harper admitted being involved and stated he was approached by a Spanish speaking male who displayed brass knuckles. Harper denied pointing a weapon and  denied possessing any weapons. Twice Harper was asked for his consent for a search of the vehicle and agreed both times.  After opening the rear driver sliding door, the officer observed the rear seat area to be wide open, as it is outfitted for wheelchair accessibility. Directly behind the two front seats, was a camouflage backpack, positioned in the open floor area. The officer opened the backpack, observed a black polymer handgun and multiple glass jars containing suspected marijuana, said FTPD.

Researching Harper’s criminal history, Police learned he was convicted in 1996 of felony robbery in Philadelphia, which Harper confirmed. Harper does not have a valid permit to carry a firearm. The officer re-entered the Honda, took possession of the black polymer handgun and observed it was an authentic 9mm Taurus handgun. The officer ejected the extended magazine and observed it to be fully loaded with 17 9mm rounds. He pulled the slide to the rear and ejected one live round from the chamber, according to the affidavit.

Harper was arraigned on two felony firearm counts and two lesser degree drug offenses  and was released on unsecured bail. His next court date is scheduled for August 6, court documents show.

 

 

 

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Morrisville Woman Charged in Fatal Drug Overdose, Financial Exploitation of Roommate

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The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office and the Falls Township Police Department have filed criminal charges against a 38-year-old woman in connection with the overdose death of her roommate.

Christina Gallo, of the Morrisville section of Falls Township was arraigned by District Judge John Galloway on Tuesday on charges of death by drug delivery, drug distribution,  misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter and related offenses.

Gallo was remanded to the custody of Bucks County Correctional after Galloway set bail at 10 percent of $250,000.00.

According to investigators,  Gallo not only supplied the lethal drugs that killed 34-year-old Mary Wells but also systematically stole the victim’s money and attempted to frame others for the crime.

On Jan. 2, 2025, Wells was found unresponsive at the residence she shared with Gallo at 4352 Dover Drive in the Pennwood Crossing trailer park. She was later pronounced dead at Jefferson-Bucks Hospital, said investigators in the probable cause.

An autopsy and toxicology report revealed  Wells died from a lethal combination of fentanyl, xylazine (Tranq), methamphetamine, methadone, and para-fluorofentanyl. Investigators recovered straws and blue wax bags at the scene. Laboratory testing by NMS Labs confirmed that the bags contained a potent mixture of fentanyl, xylazine, and para-fluorofentanyl, the same substances found in the victim’s blood, detectives wrote in the probable cause.

Investigators discovered that Wells was a daily fentanyl user who had been too ill to leave her home in the days leading up to her death. Cell site data and text messages confirmed that Wells remained at the Dover Drive residence from Dec. 31, 2024, until her death.

The “comprehensive” investigation identified Gallo as the primary source of the drugs, alleging she regularly drove to the Kensington to purchase fentanyl for Wells. According to text messages recovered by investigators from Dec. 22, 2024, which showed both women expressing excitement at being able to purchase a particular brand of fentanyl, a potent mixture highly sought after by users.

Gallo made the final delivery of that brand of fentanyl to Wells on Jan. 1, 2025, approximately 16 hours before her death. While Gallo initially attempted to shift blame to other individuals, investigators used digital evidence and interviews to disprove her claims and confirm her role as the final distributor.

The investigation, according to the criminal complaint further revealed a pattern of financial exploitation following the victim’s death. Police found that Gallo allegedly used Wells’ EBT and debit cards to make multiple fraudulent purchases and withdrawals.

The victim’s family, including her daughter, informed investigators that these stolen funds could have been used to provide Wells with a proper funeral. Instead, the family lacked the resources for a service while Gallo allegedly exhausted the victim’s accounts for her own use, detectives said in court records.

“The details of this case are as heartbreaking as they are infuriating,” said Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan. “Not only did the defendant deliver the very poison that ended the victim’s life, but she then chose to further victimize the family by systematically draining the victim’s financial accounts in the days following her death.”

Falls Township Police Chief Nelson Whitney emphasized that the charges are the result of a seamless partnership between local and county investigators.

“People who struggle with substance use disorder deserve our compassion and help, but those who take advantage of their suffering deserve swift justice and punishment,” Whitney said. “This case is a tragedy for the Wells family, and my heart goes out to them and so many other families who know the pain that comes with having a loved one immersed in substance use.”

“This case is also an important example of the dedication of the professional investigators involved and the high level of coordination between the Falls Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office,” Whitney continued. “Together, we are committed to making the community safer and to holding all those who seek to imperil that safety accountable under the law.”

A co-defendant, identified as John “Twitch” Lindsay, 44, of Bensalem, is also alleged to have delivered doses of methamphetamine to the victim during the same period. He was charged Tuesday with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and was sent to BCCF on $50,000 bail.

The charges against Christina Gallo follow a joint investigation by Bucks County Detective Jarrod Eisenhauer and Falls Township Detective John Vella. This case is assigned for prosecution to Deputy District Attorney Chad Kovack.

Gallo is due back in court on March 25 for a preliminary hearing and has no attorney of record listed according to online court records. Gallo was also charged by Falls Twp Police in what appears to be a separate incident with misdemeanor drug offenses dating back to last month.

 

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Falls Twp Police Community Connect Effort Begins Next Week

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The Falls Township Police Department is rolling out a community connect program to keep residents and callers up to date on calls for service for through digital technology. 

The automated  notification system program was announced last year after being the department was awarded a grant that fully funds the effort for the first year it is implemented.

“We are excited to announce that we have partnered with Versaterm and their Community Connect platform.  Beginning Monday, March 16,  residents and callers who contact Falls Township Police for help will receive timely text updates confirming their call was received, outlining next steps and providing a case number,” Lt Chris Clark, said.

These updates are designed to reduce uncertainty while residents wait for assistance, improve transparency, and strengthen communication between Falls Township Police and the community, Clark explained.

When applicable, texts may also advise if police response will be delayed. Once the call is cleared, residents will receive a link to a short voluntary survey about their experience with Falls Township Police Officers.
Surveys will be available in both English and Spanish, and no confidential information will ever be shared by text.

Applicable Calls

This service will apply only to calls where there is no immediate threat to life or crime in progress. Calls involving sexual assault, intimate partner violence, abduction, bomb threats, alarms or demonstrations will not be part of the system. To ensure public safety, real-time updates will not be sent for in-progress incidents or situations where messaging could pose a risk to those involved.

Public Expectation
  • A confirmation text that their call was received
  • The associated case number
  • Information about next steps
  • Updates if police response will be delayed
  • A link to an optional multilingual feedback survey

Residents will receive texts from (215) 608-4638. If they call or text this number, they will receive an automated message directing them to call police emergency and non-emergency lines.

“This technology will increase our communication and customer service with the community we serve” Clark said.

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Falls Township

Updated: Missing Falls Twp. Teen Found Safe

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Update – Saturday – March 7

Morgan has been located and is safe, according to Lt. Christopher Clark of Falls Township Police Department.

Original Story: 

Falls Township Police are seeking help with locating a missing 17 year-old last seen on Trenton Avenue Friday morning.

Morgan Douglas was last seen this morning in the 900 block of West Trenton Avenue, Morrisville, police said in a press release.

She was wearing a grey ‘essential’ hooded sweatshirt, a dark grey North Face Jacket, and black ‘Croc’ shoes. Morgan also has a tattoo, reading ‘Morgan,’ on her right wrist.

Anyone seeing Morgan is asked to call 911, anyone with information is asked to contact the assigned investigator, Detective Gregory Small, at (215) 302-3306, or via email at g.small@fallstwppd.com.

Information may also be provided anonymously at (215) 949-9120, or via email at tiplines@fallstwppd.com.

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