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The Monday night thunderstorm that blew through Lower Bucks County brought intense winds, downed trees and powerlines and colored the sky while area transformers sparked a beat of their own.

According to a PECO outage map at the storms peak there were about 5500 customers without power expected to be restored by 11 p.m. Tuesday citing severe weather as the reason for power loss.

Many locals took to social media wondering if the intensity of the storm was in fact a tornado ripping through the lower end. The National Weather Service Monday afternoon issued a tornado watch, however several hours later said the “threat” had decreased, cutting back the watch from northwest to southeast, saying “risk still exists along and southeast of I-95 for the time being.”

Several parents commenting on Bristol-based Meta pages woke their children and took refuge in their basements fearing a tornado had touched the ground.

Jon Benson of Levittown posted a reel showing his car was crushed by a tree that snapped due to wind gusts.

Credit: Meta

Transformers sparking in addition to the severe thunderstorm lit up the sky in flashes of blue at times followed by booms.

Dawn Reiling-Leshner said it best of the hues in the night sky.

“I saw that and the multiple color changes was crazy. It looked like Parx Casino was nearby with those flashing lights.”

Credit: Meta

A former Bucks County Police officer will serve no jail time in a correctional facility but will be on “restricted probation” and house arrest for scheming to steal the estate of a 77 year-old Langhorne woman.

Carlito Cortez, 60, of Richboro, will serve the first 90 days of his sentence in home detention on the charge of criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, authorities said last week.

Common Pleas Judge Charissa J. Liller also imposed a concurrent seven-year probationary term for perjury. As special conditions of his sentence, Cortez must have no contact with the victim, undergo a mental health evaluation, complete a decision-making class, and submit a formal letter of apology to the woman he targeted.

“This case serves as a firm reminder of our commitment to protecting our seniors from those who seek to exploit them,” District Attorney Joe Khan said. “Protecting our elders from this kind of abuse is a top priority, and we will continue to hold those in positions of power accountable when they violate the public’s trust.”

The sentencing follows Cortez’s December plea of nolo contendere to charges including criminal attempt to commit theft by deception, securing execution of documents by deception, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, false swearing, perjury, and official oppression.

Cortez, who worked part-time for both the Yardley Borough and Langhorne Borough Police Departments, was charged in May 2025 following an investigation by Bucks County Detectives and the 21st Investigating Grand Jury.

The investigation revealed that Cortez exploited his position of authority to build a relationship with the victim after being assigned to investigate a theft at her home in 2020. He eventually manipulated her into signing a last will and testament that he falsely presented as a power of attorney document in an attempt to gain control of her estate, valued at more than $500,000.

During the sentencing hearing, the victim’s impact statement was read in court by Deputy District Attorney Alan J. Garabedian.

The statement detailed the profound emotional damage caused by the former officer’s actions. The victim, now 77, expressed a permanent sense of disappointment and a total loss of trust in those who offer help, noting that she now lives in fear and keeps her home constantly locked. She described the hardship of being unable to resolve home repairs due to the trauma caused by an officer of the law, and she shared that she is once again struggling to learn how to trust.

“The reason I am coming forward with this now is to protect other women in the future from being influenced by promises of affection, scare tactics, or emotional abuse,” she wrote in her impact statement.

As part of its ongoing commitment to help eliminate hunger in the local communities it serves, The GIANT Company announced a donation of 3,000 hams to 14 hunger relief partner organizations, of which two are in Bucks County. GIANT team members will also volunteer at several food banks over the next few weeks to help organize and restock pantry shelves.

“Protein is the heart of a nutritious meal, and every family deserves that,” said Courtney Hopcraft, manager, community relations and strategic partnerships, The GIANT Company. “With this donation, we are delivering that essential protein to help our local hunger relief partners ensure families have this key center of the plate item for their weeknight dinners or special celebrations.”

Hams will be donated to the following hunger relief partners:

• Warminster Food Bank – Warminster, Pa.
• Philabundance – Philadelphia, Pa.
• New Britain Baptist – New Britain, Pa.
• Second Harvest Food Bank – Nazareth, Pa.
• West Chester Food Bank – West Chester, Pa.

• Central Pennsylvania Food Bank – Harrisburg, Pa.
• Family and Community Services – Brookhaven, Pa.
• Helping Harvest Fresh Food Bank – Reading, Pa.
• Indiana County Community Action Program – Homer City, Pa.
• Lancaster County Food Hub – Lancaster, Pa.
• Manna on Main Street – Lansdale, Pa.
• York County Food Bank – York, Pa.
• Maryland Food Bank – Hagerstown, Md.
• Blue Ridge Area Food Bank – Verona, Va.

“We are so grateful to The GIANT Company for their donation of 200 hams ahead of the spring holidays. This donation comes at a time when too many of our neighbors are struggling with food insecurity, and these hams will help put meals on many tables,” said Jay Worrall, president, Helping Harvest. “Additionally, we appreciate The GIANT Company’s commitment to regular volunteering. Whether distributing food at a Mobile Market or packing food at our warehouse, their team members bring positivity and commitment every time they join us.”

GIANT’S customers can also help feed their neighbors in need. From now through April 5, 2026, customers can donate their free ham certificates at the register in-store to a local food bank.

Click here for more information on the ham redemption program, including how to donate your ham certificate.