Credit: Friends of Tina Davis
54-year -old Gerald Keating is really bad at being a criminal and drug user.
The proof?
More than 15 arrests on drug possession, copper wire theft, simple assault, terroristic threats, and the list goes on dating back to 2002.
He gets sentenced, does a little time, attends drug treatment per his numerous guilty plea agreements, and starts the insidious cycle all over again.
On September 12, Keating walked into the Wawa on the 200 block of Green Lane at just after 6 a.m., reportedly intoxicated.
The store manager called police, wanting Keating trespassed from the popular convenience store. She told police Keating appeared to be drunk, ordered food, and believed he had pocketed several items before leaving the store.
Police made contact with him outside the store, noting he appeared to be intoxicated and possibly under the influence of a controlled substance.
According to police, he was unable to identify the time of day, day of the week or where he was. He had slurred speech and difficulty communicating with police coherently.
Keating, police said, was yelling and behaving in a disorderly manner and as a result was taken into police custody.
A 2018 photo of Keating from Penndel Borough Police
During a search incident to the arrest, police located the following Wawa merchandise in Keating’s possession:
1 Welch’s Berries & Cherries valued at $3.29
1 Boston Cream Donut valued at $1.59
1 Chocolate Chip Cookie valued at $1.99
3 Goetze’s Candy Cow Tales Vanilla valued at $.49 cents each
Total of $8.34 in items
Keating was also found to be in possession of:
A large clear Ziploc bag containing a “crystal and white substance” suspected to be a controlled substance.
A medium-sized clear Ziplock bag containing a “crystal and white substance” suspected to be a controlled substance.
A small Ziplock baggie containing a “crystal and white substance” suspected to be a controlled substance.
A small black digital scale was also located.
There were also various pills found during the search, police said.
All of the above were sent to the police testing lab for testing and results, police said.
Keating is being charged by mail summons with misdemeanor counts of retail theft, receiving stolen property, drug possession, and two related summary offenses.
He is currently scheduled to appear in court on October 28.