Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township
License Plate Reader Technology Plays Key Role in Arrest of Bensalem Robbery Suspects, Cops Say
On Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 2:50 AM, Bensalem Police responded to the 7-11 convenience store located at 2511 Lincoln Highway in Trevose for the report of a gunpoint robbery. Upon arrival, the store clerk stated that a black male dressed in black pants, a black hooded sweatshirt, black gloves, and a face mask entered and requested a carton of Newport cigarettes.
When the clerk returned to the register, the male had his hand inside his sweatshirt and appeared to be pointing something at the clerk. The male stated that he had a gun and ordered the clerk to remove all of the cash from the register. The clerk gave him the cash and the carton of cigarettes. The male then casually walked out of the front door and went out of sight in the rear of the building. A K-9 search was conducted, but the male was not located.
Officers then viewed surveillance footage from the 7-11 and determined that the male got into a vehicle waiting in the rear of the building and fled the area. Officers began to leverage technology by utilizing cameras and license plate readers. They identified a silver-blue Chevrolet Malibu that fled south on Route 1 into Philadelphia from the area of the 7-11. The registration of the suspect vehicle was broadcast to Bensalem officers and surrounding police agencies.
At 4:50 AM, Bensalem officers observed a Chevrolet Malibu with the same registration plate traveling south on Lincoln Highway near the Wawa. Officers conducted a traffic stop for vehicle code violations. The female driver was identified as Amanda Petherbridge, 34, with no fixed abode. The passenger was Christopher Yelverton, 42, with no fixed abode. Yelverton generally matched the description of the robbery suspect but he was not wearing the same clothing as depicted in the 7-11 surveillance footage. Petherbridge or Yelverton did not own the vehicle or have a valid driver’s license or proof of insurance. Before towing the vehicle, officers observed black sweatpants, gloves, and a black hooded sweatshirt in the vehicle’s back seat. They also saw a large amount of cash and a black handgun.
Both subjects were detained, and the vehicle was towed to the Bensalem Township Police Department, where a search warrant was executed. Police recovered an unopened carton of Newport cigarettes, black gloves and clothing, $300 cash, four black face masks, narcotics, and a black Canik TP9 semi-automatic handgun with an extended magazine loaded with 29 rounds of 9 mm ammunition. An investigation revealed that neither Petherbridge nor Yelverton had a firearm permit, and both were precluded by law from possessing a firearm.
Bensalem detectives interviewed both subjects, who admitted to the 7-11 robbery and also admitted to two other gunpoint robberies outside of Bensalem Township. Petherbridge and Yelverton were charged with robbery, criminal conspiracy, persons not to possess firearms, terroristic threats, and related charges. They were arraigned by District Justice Maggie Snow and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10% of $100,000 bail.
Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township
Cops: Motorist Driving “Erratically” on Street Rd Arrested for Fleeing, DUI
A early morning Tuesday fire in Bensalem took the life of one woman and firefighters were able to rescue a man, community sources told Lower Bucks Source.
Bensalem fire companies were dispatched for the reports of a dwelling fire in the 2900 of Bellview Drive at around 2:45 a.m with possible entrapment.
Police officers on scene reported two residents were unaccounted for and believed to be inside. Fire crews initiated an aggressive quick search and attack of the fire, where a male was immediately located by the doorway, Bensalem Volunteer Fire Department, officials said.
The woman killed in the fire was located shortly thereafter, fire officials said.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and flames coming from the home, officials said.
An on scene witness said they saw a man was taken to the hospital by Bensalem EMS. His condition is unknown as of publication time.
The identity of the woman killed in the blaze has not been released
The fire caused the closure of Bellview Dr, from Morrow Drive to the entrance of Faust Elementary for several hours.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation of the fire marshal’s office.
“The thoughts and prayers of our entire department go out to the family and friends of those affected by this tragedy. It’s a sad day for our Nottingham Village families” said Bensalem Volunteer Fire Dept officials.
Cops
Emergency Crews Prepare for Incoming Blizzard as Lower Bucks Municipalities Declare Storm Plans
Lower Bucks municipalities have declared disaster/snow emergencies in advance of the expected snow storm that the National Weather Service says will dump anywhere between 14 to 18 inches on the area.
A winter storm warning is still in effect from Sunday, Feb 22 to Monday, Feb 23.
Each municipality has its own link. For more information and updates, please click on their associated link.
Bensalem Township – Disaster Emergency declared immediately for the pending snow storm. Click here to see more details.
Bristol Borough – Snow information/requirements have been posted on their website. Click here to see the details.
Bristol Township – Snow Emergency effective 12 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 through 12 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026. Click here to see more details.
Falls Township – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. and expires on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 6 a.m. Click here for details.
Langhorne Borough – Snow Emergency starts Sunday, Feb. 22 at noon until Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 10 a.m. No parking. Click here for details.
Lower Makefield Township – Snow information has been posted on Meta. Click here to see the details.
Middletown Township – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 12 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 12 p.m. . Click here to see details.
Morrisville Borough – Snow Emergency is in effect from Sunday, Feb. 22 at 5 p.m. to Monday, Feb. 23 at 5 p.m. Click here to see the details.
Newtown Township – A Snow Emergency is in effect from 4 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026 until 4 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 23, 2026. Click here to see the details.
Penndel Borough – Snow Emergency has been declared from 12 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026, through 12 p.m. on Monday, February 23, 2026. Click here for more details and click here for more on the ordinance.
Tullytown Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 6 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 6 p.m. Click here to see more details.
Warminster Township – Disaster Emergency has been declared for the incoming snow storm, effective Sunday Feb. 22, 2026 at 12 p.m. through Tuesday, Feb. 24,2026 at 12 p.m.. Click here to see the details and click here to see the declaration from Township Manager Tom Scott.
Yardley Borough – Snow Emergency proclamation in effect from Sunday Feb. 22 – 4 p.m. to Monday Feb. 23 – 4 p.m. . Click here to see the details. and click here to see declaration/other information from Mayor Caroline Thompson.
The primary concern is safety. Take care of yourselves and check on neighbors and those who may be vulnerable.
Please stay safe, take all necessary precautions, and keep your devices charged.
Click here for updates from the National Weather Service
Click here for PECO’s outage map.
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