Cops, Courts & Fire -Bensalem Township
Crime Spree Linked to Resident of St. Francis & St. Vincent Homes for Children on Bristol Pike, Say Cops
A Bensalem man and a 15-year living at a home for troubled youth stand accused by Bensalem authorities of going on a crime spree over a 24 hour period in which they car jacked a woman in front of her home, stole a second second vehicle, were chased by police, intentionally rammed police vehicle and are now under the watchful eye of corrections authorities.
According to police, on Monday, December 2, 2024, at 4:15 a.m., a resident of Oak Court in Bensalem arrived at her home and parked her vehicle. She observed 5-7 males huddled in the parking lot, so she remained in her vehicle, hoping they would leave. A short time later, a male in his early twenties wearing dark clothing and a mask tapped on her window with a gun and ordered her out of the car. He then pointed the gun to her face and told her to give him her phone and walked away. The male entered, with another suspect, entered the white Honda Pilot and fled
Police tracked the vehicle utilizing cameras and automated license plate readers as it traveled north on Hulmeville Road and east on Park Avenue. At 5:07 a.m., police discovered the stolen Honda Pilot in the Oak Court area, unoccupied and continued the carjacking investigation,
The following day, police responded to Magnolia Court at 5 a.m. for the report of a vehicle theft in progress. Upon arrival, the Toyota Rav 4 had already been stolen. Police immediately checked cameras and automated license plate readers and discovered that the vehicle was traveling West on Street Road. Police attempted to stop the vehicle at the intersection of Street and Mechanicsville Roads when the vehicle’s driver rammed the side of a police van and fled, authorities said.
Police pursued the vehicle, and the passenger bailed out of the car near Byberry and Knights Roads and ran into a wooded area. The suspect, later identified as Tharyn Battis Jr., 18 years old, continued reaching towards his waistband while running away. Police were able to take Battis into custody at gunpoint. He was identified as a resident of the St. Francis Home for Children on Bristol Pike in Bensalem. A K-9 track was performed, and police discovered a Glock 9 mm semi-automatic handgun, Battis’s cell phone, a vape pen, and a pocket knife in the wooded area where he was taken into custody. The unoccupied, stolen Toyota Rav 4 was recovered in the 300 block of Penguin Drive a short time later. The Glock handgun is registered to a Bensalem resident and was reported stolen from a vehicle on Thanksgiving Eve.
During the investigation, the stolen Toyota Rav 4 driver was identified as Daniel Rosa, 15, Park Avenue Bensalem. It was also determined the duo committed the carjacking that occurred the night before on Oak Court.
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- Credit: Bensalem Police
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- Credit: Bensalem Police
Both suspects were charged with robbery, robbery of a motor vehicle, persons not to possess a firearm, theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, and related offenses. Rosa was charged as an adult.
Battis was arraigned by District Justice Joseph Falcone and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10% of $3,000,000 bail. Rosa was arrested at his home, arraigned by District Justice Joseph Falcone, and remanded to the Bucks County Youth Center (Edison) on 10% of $5,000,000 bail.
Bensalem Police have had multiple criminal contacts with residents of the St. Francis & St. Vincent Home for Children on Bristol Pike and found that staff has little or no control over them. It was discovered that several residents of St. Francis Home for Children went AWOL simultaneously at 2:59 am on Monday, just before the carjacking. Still, staff only reported Battis Jr. was missing, authorities said.
The St. Francis home is for troubled youth who commit crimes in Philadelphia and are court-ordered to live at the Bensalem facility. In recent months, there has been a significant uptick in crimes committed in the Brookwood and Eddington sections of the township, specifically vehicle thefts and vehicle break-ins. The police are focusing there investigations on the residents of home. We ask residents to be vigilant and dial 911 if they see any suspicious activity in their neighborhood, said Bensalem authorities in a press release.
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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