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Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

Bensalem Ghost Gun Dealer, Associate of Pentz Drug Gang Sentenced 15 to 30

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A Bucks County judge sentenced a ghost gun manufacturer and firearms trafficker on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023, to 15 to 30 years in state prison.

President Judge Wallace H. Bateman Jr. sentenced, Russell Byron Norton, 32, of Bensalem, following his December arrest by Bristol Township Police and the Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force. Investigators charged Norton with more firearms sales and possession offenses than anyone else in recent Bucks County history.

Detectives investigating the Pentz Drug and Gun Distribution Organization identified Norton as a manufacturer of privately made firearms, also known as “ghost guns”, including AR-15 rifles, AK-47 rifles, and other different caliber handguns, which he possessed, built, sold and/or delivered. Norton pleaded guilty in August to 82 counts of the following crimes: corrupt organizations; prohibited possession of a firearm; altering or obliterating a mark of identification; possession of a firearm with an altered manufacturer number; firearm ownership – duty of other persons; and firearms not to be carried without a license.

In a second case, he pleaded guilty to possession of contraband at the county jail and other drug-related crimes. Norton was arrested after a yearlong investigation that culminated on Dec. 21, 2022, with a pair of coordinated search warrants being served at Norton’s home in Bensalem and his business in Bristol Township.

At his home, detectives recovered 13 firearms, which included a ghost gun handgun, two AR-15 type ghost guns and other handguns, rifles and a shotgun and a large amount of ammunition. At his business, police located 18 firearms in various stages of manufacturing and one completed firearm, along with tools and items used to manufacture and build additional firearms.

Pennsylvania law prohibited Norton from possessing firearms because of a previous conviction and because he had an active criminal warrant out of New Jersey. The Bucks County Strike Force is a part of the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program, focusing on areas of drug trafficking and gun violence. The Bucks County Detectives Drug Strike Force and Bristol Township Police Department were assisted in this investigation by Homeland Security Investigations-Philadelphia, Bensalem Township Police Department, the Bucks County South SWAT Team, the Pennsylvania State Police, and the Philadelphia Bomb Squad.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Christopher Rees prosecuted this case.

Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

Cops: Motorist Driving “Erratically” on Street Rd Arrested for Fleeing, DUI

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A Langhorne woman spent a day in jail after she fled Bensalem Police who observed her driving erratically  on Street Road last month locating the vehicle and its owner, ironically on the same block of funeral home.

According to the probable cause filing, on Saturday, Feb. 28, at approximately 10:23 p.m.  Police were on routine patrol in the area of 3000 Street Road when officers observed a sliver Ford Explorer bearing a Pennsylvania registration MHS-**** driving erratically. Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop by activating lights and sirens.

The  motorist, police said,  fled west on Street Road at a high rate of speed.

Police in court papers said, the driver passed multiple vehicles on the right side and then ran through multiple steady red lights. Police lost track of the  Explorer in the area of Street Road and Public Safety Way.

At approximately 11:35 p.m. police found the vehicle in the rear of 4737 East Street Road in Bensalem Twp.

Police  initiated a second traffic stop by activating lights and sirens with back-up officers surrounding the  Explorer so the motorist could not speed away again.

Police made contact with the driver and sole occupant, who was identified as 50 year-old Paige Holwood.

Holwood had bloodshot, glassy eyes, and the odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her person which increased as she spoke. She was unsteady on her feet when she got out of the vehicle, according to coure papers.

Police came to the conclusion that she could not operate a motor vehicle safely, said the probable cause.

Holwood was transported back to Police Headquarters where she was read the implied consent form in its entirety and refused to submit to a blood test, the arresting officer said.

On-Call District Judge John T. Galloway arraigned Holwood in the early morning hours of Sunday on a felony charge of fleeing police, DUI and four related traffic offenses.

Galloway set bail at 10 percent of $25,000 and Holwood, unable to post bail, was remanded to County Jail. She paid the 10 percent on Monday and released.  Holwood’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for  March 26.  Currently, she has no attorney of record, according to online court records.

 

 

 

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township

Bensalem House Fire Kills One Woman, One Man Injured

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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.

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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.

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Emergency Crews Prepare for Incoming Blizzard as Lower Bucks Municipalities Declare Storm Plans

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Credit:: Veinna Carcel

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 TownshipSnow 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.

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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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