A Bristol Township man with drug arrests dating back to 2001 who is about to go trial for the torching a Croydon home that led to the line of duty death of former Third District Fire Chief was arrested again last week as part of a Bensalem Township Police investigative unit sting operation.
51 year-old Charles Vandenberg was arrested by officers assigned to the Bensalem Township Police Department’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) following a months-long investigation into suspected drug trafficking and illegal firearm possession.
The investigation began after Bensalem SIU officers developed information stemming from a proactive drug arrest in the area of Lincoln Highway and Street Road in July of 2026, said investigators. During the course of the investigation, officers received information and later confirmed that Vandenberg was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine and had numerous firearms at his Maryland Avenue residence.
As a convicted felon, Vandenberg is prohibited from possessing firearms.
On November 4, 2026, Bensalem SIU officers, with assistance from the Bucks County South SWAT Team and Bristol Township Police, executed a search warrant at his Croydon home. Vandenberg and several other individuals were located and detained at the property, later on taken into custody authorities said.
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Investigators said during the search, they recovered a total of 20 firearms, including six handguns, nine rifles, and five shotguns, along with numerous rounds of ammunition, a bulletproof vest, approximately one pound of methamphetamine, numerous pills, drug paraphernalia, and multiple items commonly used for packaging illegal narcotics.
One of the recovered handguns had an obliterated serial number and was equipped with a drum-style magazine. At the time of the investigation, none of the recovered firearms had been reported stolen, police said.
Vandenberg was charged with one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, 18 gun offenses and related charges. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Lisa Gaier, who denied bail. Vandenberg was subsequently remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility. He is due back in court for the new charges December 16.
Before Vandenberg’s June 2026 preliminary hearing in Bristol , about three dozen firefighters from Third District and Croydon Fire Companies glared him (and his co defendant) as they entered the Bath Street courthouse. That case is still matriculating its way through the courts with a hearing date set for December 9.
It undoubtedly won’t be a white Christmas this year for Vandenberg.