Welcome to the Coatesville Dems Blog

Public Corruption in Chester County, PA

I believe an unlikely mix of alleged drug trafficking related politicos and alleged white nationalist related politicos united to elect the infamous “Bloc of Four” in the abysmal voter turnout election of 2005. During their four year term the drug business was good again and white nationalists used Coatesville as an example on white supremacist websites like “Stormfront”. Strong community organization and support from law enforcement, in particular Chester County District Attorney Joseph W. Carroll has begun to turn our community around. The Chester County drug trafficking that I believe centers on Coatesville continues and I believe we still have public officials in place that profit from the drug sales. But the people here are amazing and continue to work against the odds to make Coatesville a good place to live.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Libertarian Heaven; Somalia

On the Rachel Maddow show last night Richard Engel reported on Somalia.
Mr. Engle says if something happens in Somalia, maybe an auto accident, there is no one to call, only 4 doctors in the country. No police, fire department, no hospital, no government, no embassy, NO ONE to call. No gun laws, anyone can use live people for target practice.  


It must be Libertarian heaven.


Somalia is Libertarianism brought to life. I wonder what Pat Toomey and Rand Paul think of Somalia as Libertarian Heaven.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The Lisa Johnson/John Tinson trial was continued to July 6, 2010


This should be their last continuance.

The trial will be on Tuesday July 6, 2010

It should be up on "Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System" website shortly.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
v. 
Lisa A. Johnson

Cross Court Docket Nos: CR-0000343-09

Judge Assigned: Sarcione, Anthony A. Date Filed: 01/11/2010 Initiation Date: 12/03/2009

OTN: K8720412 Lower Court Docket No: CR-0000343-09
Initial Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge Final Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge
Arresting Agency: Coatesville City Police Dept Arresting Officer: Raech, Michael

Criminal Trial 05/25/2010 9:00 am Courtroom 12 Judge Anthony A. Sarcione Scheduled

Monday, May 24, 2010

Coatesville City Council Meeting this evening


AGENDA CITY COUNCIL MEETING Regular Meeting Monday May 24, 2010



Presentations
1. Mr. Dennis Rowan, UtiliTech, Inc., will give a presentation for assistance in recovering overcharged utility
bills and to provide assistance for selection of an electric generation company to replace PECO upon
deregulation December 31, 2010.



Special Events
1. A Banner Permit Application was received from ArcelorMittal Plate LLC. for a banner to celebrate 200
years of Iron and Steel operations in Coatesville (1810-2010) to be installed June 15, 2010 and removed
July 15 2010.



Items for Discussion
1. Discuss request from Central Chester County Recycling Authority for the City’s participation of $14,520
toward a matching grant for the purchase of composting equipment.
2. Discuss amending the legal agreement with Montgomery, McCracken, Walker and Rhoads, LLP for
completion of the Pension Plans for the City’s three pension programs.


Citizens’ Hearing – Regular Action Items Only


Regular Action Items
1. Consider approval of Change Order #2 for the River Walk Project to change the type of street lights
which will be a $3,500 reduction in the contract.
2. Consider Amendment #2 to the River Walk Contract extending the completion time from June 30, 2010
to June 30, 2011.
3. Consider a Cooperative Advisory Partnership letter/agreement with the Chester County Commissioners
for assistance in the completion of the Third Avenue/Train Station project at no cost to the city.
4. Consider the termination of any and all contracts with Buchart Horn, Inc. engineers, for all City projects.



Solicitor’s Report
City Manager’s Report
Citizens’ Hearings – Non-Agenda Items
Council Comments
Adjournment

"race weekend"

NEW PHILADELPHIA CYCLING, HEALTH & FITNESS SHOW TO KICK OFF BIKE RACE WEEKEND JUNE 4 TO 6



Pro Cycling Tour, the producers of the TD Bank Philadelphia International Cycling Championship, the nation's largest and longest-running professional cycling race, is bringing a new dynamic to "race weekend" this year, June 4 - 6, 2010:  the all-new Philadelphia Cycling, Health & Fitness Show. 


Show Details
The Philadelphia Cycling, Health & Fitness Show will run at the Pennsylvania Convention Center (Hall C):
·         Friday, June 4 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
·         Saturday, June 5 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Team Presentation at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.)
The Show’s finale will be course-side on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on:
·         Sunday, June 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission to the Show is $10 for adults.  Children under age 12 will be admitted free.

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Odell "Zelly" Q. Cannon convicted the next Coatesville trial is on Tuesday



By Kathleen Brady Shea
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

The next Coatesville trial is on Tuesday:

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 
v. 
Lisa A. Johnson

Cross Court Docket Nos: CR-0000343-09

Judge Assigned: Sarcione, Anthony A. Date Filed: 01/11/2010 Initiation Date: 12/03/2009

OTN: K8720412 Lower Court Docket No: CR-0000343-09
Initial Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge Final Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge
Arresting Agency: Coatesville City Police Dept Arresting Officer: Raech, Michael

Criminal Trial 05/25/2010 9:00 am Courtroom 12 Judge Anthony A. Sarcione Scheduled





AND


Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
v.
John C Tinson




Cross Court Docket Nos: CR-0000325-09

Judge Assigned: Sarcione, Anthony A. Date Filed: 01/11/2010 Initiation Date: 11/19/2009

OTN: K8720261 Lower Court Docket No: CR-0000325-09
Initial Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge Final Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge
Arresting Agency: Coatesville City Police Dept Arresting Officer: Raech, Michael

Criminal Trial 05/25/2010 9:00 am Courtroom 12 Judge Anthony A. Sarcione Scheduled

Trimming the weed patch

There are things that I do in Coatesville that members of the Legree, Trowrey, Suber, Koon, Johnson, Cannon, families and some local GOP members don’t like. I believe they see me as a thorn in their side and would like me out of the way.

It’s only my opinion but I believe that if you really want to quash the drug dealers in the Coatesville area; some Chester County Republican Committee members need to go down with them. Otherwise things like the Odell Cannon trial are just trimming the weed patch.

Reporting from "Little Sicily" PA, Jim Pitcherella


DAILY LOCAL NEWS

Jury deliberates '06 slaying

Published: Saturday, May 22, 2010
By MICHAEL P. RELLAHAN, Staff Writer

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Isn’t the PA Attorney General’s office SUPPOSED to be for partisan political use only?

It looks like maybe some people think the Attorney General’s office is for enforcing  Commonwealth Law instead of GOP LAW. How quaint. 

Look what those damn do gooder whistle blowers are doing to respectable Republican politicians like Tom Corbett now:








Gubernatorial candidate Tom Corbett had an awkward encounter at his   campaign stop in the Lehigh Valley yesterday.
According to the blog "Repatriot Radio," Corbett exploded at a man who asked about the federal lawsuit Corbett finds himself currently embroiled, specifically a possible federal investigation into the activities surrounding Corbett's Financial Enforcement Section:
"Anyway I asked the question Mr Corbett if you win tomorrow how will you handle your campaign and your subsequent Federal trial for alleged fraud in the Attorney Generals office. Tom Corbett got so irate he came off the platform through the crowd and confronted me to my face on the issue. All he said was that the info I was referring to was fraudulent and put out by the Sam Rohrer campaign. He shook his finger in my face and told me to go back to Sam and get my facts straight."(Repatriot Radio 5/17/10)


FROM:







Thanks Tom, I never would have heard about this if you hadn’t subpoenaed Twitter!


CasablancaPa-Exposing the hypocrisy of Tom Corbett 




20100506142515358-Subpoena

“South Street Culture”

I had no idea before we moved there but the area around Schwenksville, Skippack, Limerick and other parts of Northwest Montgomery County was settled by some of the people of the “South Street Culture” from Philly long ago. They grow their own.

Up in that area you hear talk about the new homes being built and the newcomers that move in. I think the primary difference between the newcomers and the locals is that the newcomers don’t get high every night. It’s purely an unscientific assessment but I believe that a large chunk of the “establishment” in local government, civic organizations, fire departments and such in that area grows their own marijuana at home, for personal use only.

It might be hard to convince high school kids in the area to not use drugs when they know their granddad smokes a joint when he comes home from his township supervisors meeting.

And everybody that has ever been to the “Philadelphia Folk Festival” on the Pool Farm in Schwenksville knows that unless you carry your own personal air supply it’s impossible to not get high. If the air is calm there is sort of a marijuana smog.

In some places people come home from work and have a beer. In Upper MontCo they have a joint.

I’m not passing judgment on the use of marijuana it’s just that when we talk about legalization let’s keep things real.  

New York Times-Dining
By KIM SEVERSON
Published: May 18, 2010

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Just a quick Election prediction

I think that Pat Sellers, who appears to be the Tea Party Candidate in the PA 6th Congressional District will do better than most people might think.


It’s nothing scientific but I believe that the Eisenhower type Republicans will mostly stay home and the more energized Tea Party Republicans will turn out.


Patrick Henry Sellers for U.S. Congress


Jim Gerlach for Congress

Monday, May 17, 2010

Coatesville Judge of Elections is accused crack dealer

Lisa Johnson will preside as Judge of Elections in Coatesville’s Fifth Ward, Precinct 120 in tomorrow’s Primary Election.

Her trial for allegedly selling crack cocaine is on May 25, 2010 in the Chester County Justice Center.

Pennsylvania State Representative Tim Hennessey PA 26 said this about his alleged crack cocaine dealer/Office Manager Lisa Johnson; "We're trying to hold down the fort without her, but we'd welcome her back,"

I wonder if Voter Services and the Chester County Republican Committee would welcome her back if she would be convicted of selling crack cocaine.

Would she be able to preside as Judge of Elections in Coatesville’s Fifth Ward on “work release” if she is convicted?

I think this kind of stuff is called “just politics” by certain CCRC members. I think it stinks heaven high.

John Tinson and Lisa Johnson are scheduled for their trial to begin at the Chester County Justice Center on: 
05/25/2010 9:00 a.m. Courtroom 12 Judge Anthony A. Sarcione 

John Tinson is a City of Coatesville Codes Officer who had a previous trial originating with an arrest on 12/22/1987 for possession with intent to deliver for which he was proven innocent.

This time John Clayton Tinson and Lisa Johnson both face similar charges:

John Tinson
Court Summary


Lisa Johnson


From:
DAILY LOCAL NEWS
Published: Saturday, January 09, 2010







“On Nov. 19, 2009, city police charged Tinson, 51, of Coatesville, with criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of communication facility following a lengthy investigation that took place last summer…
Police filed charges against Johnson on Dec. 1; she surrendered to Hines on Dec. 3. The charges against Johnson include criminal conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance, manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Wheatcraft agreed to withdraw a drug-dealing charge.
When the arrests were made, Johnson and Tinson lived together in the 700 block of Coates Street. It was unclear Friday whether Johnson and Tinson still reside together.
Also at the time of the arrest, Johnson was working as an administrative assistant in state Rep. Tim Hennessey's Coatesville office.
Hennessey, R-26th, of North Coventry, said in December that he had informed the House Republican Caucus of the charges. Although Johnson works in Hennessey's office, the caucus is her employer and will decide what happens to her as a result of the charges.”
When she was asked if she went to Tim Hennessey's office former Coatesville City Councilperson Patsy Ray said, "I go there and I can go there every day"

Patsy at Hennesseys office every afternoon1.mp3

Hmmm, I remember another friend of Patsy Ray’s. The one that she wrote about in a letter to Common Pleas Judge Howard F. Riley Jr. It was in support of her drug dealer friend:
Published: Sunday, February 18, 2007
DAILY LOCAL NEWS

Sunday, May 16, 2010

“Are you going to answer that last question?” Saturday, May 8, 2010 Second Baptist Church, Coatesville, PA; Community Information Meeting


Pastor, Harris, “Well, I’ll answer, I’ll try to answer. I’ll try to answer your question. There are some of us who are out on the streets. There are some of us who are involved in the community. There are some of us who are really concerned about the welfare of our community and our children.

One of the things that I do find out is that I have to throw some things back on you. You ask to us where we are. Where were you? You send your children to us for maybe two, three hours a day. We only have the time to mentor them while we are in the confines of this district. We try to teach them morally. We try to reach them spiritually. We even teach them on a level of being brothers and sisters.

We know we can’t reach everybody. But the ones that we can reach we do. Some of us are in the trenches trying to save our children, your children. And when they hurt we hurt. Some of you don’t know that up on Coates Street; I have many children that come to me for community service. And I teach every last one of them, whether they’re black children or white children. I tell them it takes 10 seconds to make a better choice. But I can’t be mom and dad to them 24 hours a day. That’s not my job. That’s our job. That’s your job. They’re your children too. So we can’t start blaming the church for everything that goes on in the community.

I’m a retired school teacher too. And I’ve had children in my class that I took the authority over my classroom whether they were white kids or black kids. I told my principal the first day she hired me; if you want to fire me now fire me. Because I’ll be doggone if I’ll allow any kids to stand up to my face. I didn’t let my kids do it and I won’t let anybody else’s children do it.

We've let down our guard! Hello somebody!

We as parents have let down our guard. So when I drive up and down Coates Street in the streets of Coatesville and I’ve watched teenagers 14 and 15 years of age running the street, passing every curb. Where are your parents?

So my brothers and sisters I’m saying this to you. Try not so much in defense but in love to you; we’ve got to get a better handle on our children. And we can’t blame the police department for things that are happening in our city because we’re not taking charge of our own children. (Applause) Hello somebody. And when we start working together; we can make a difference in the City of Coatesville if we bond together.

Let’s not wait for a crisis to occur and then to come together. Let me share with you in just ten seconds what happened this morning. I was at a prayer breakfast in Downingtown and before we got ready to leave that area, I whispered to the Pastor… I said Pastor, the Lord just revealed something to me. A year ago it was the fire and God brought this whole community together. I sat at a table and I said, what happens after the fires are over, then what? You know what happened; we went back to our separate ways. You went that way, we went that way, you went that way. And so, God is doing it again. He’s trying to bring our community back together, one more time.

And so it’s going to take every entity of the City, whether you are black or white, whether you live in a rich neighborhood or a not so rich neighborhood. It’s going to take all of us together. And so we can’t sit here today and put the blame on this Lieutenant or put the blame on Lieutenant Canale or put the blame on Rita Shesko. We can’t do that. It starts here with all of us, it starts with us.

I listen to this good man Mr. Suber talk about the car that was being driven throughout our City. I listen to somebody, somewhere else say why couldn’t somebody just talk to this young kid and stop him.

We are afraid. We are afraid to talk to boys and girls who are younger than we are.

Woman, “Why?“

Pastor Harris, “We step back.”

Woman,“Why?”

Pastor Harris, “We allow them to do whatever they want to do.”

Woman, “Why?”

Pastor Harris, “I don’t know why. I don’t know why. Because they can be afraid to step on somebody, well that’s not my child, that’s her child it doesn’t do for the tip of my face because I chastise you’re children. And that’s part of the problem.

So go ahead in Faith. Thank you so much. We are trying to make some headway and leeway on where we’re going from here. Amen”

Man, “You talked of the fire last year and everything stopped with the fire situation and that’s what the people are afraid of when this incident happened. When the fire stopped but justice was not served when the fire stopped.”

Pastor Harris, “Well regardless about that, we thank God that the fire did stop and bring about all of us to come together for a time; such as it was.”

Lieutenant Shesko, “I just want to comment a minute on the gentleman’s question about where were the Police. The Police have established a tradition, I don’t know if everyone is familiar with Detective Pauly. But he’s very active. He does football, he does baseball and they have a cheerleading team. He is one person.

We have people volunteer. We ask for volunteers from the community. We also educated an officer full time for Community/Police Relations. He’s been very active in the community going to Town Watch Meetings, organizing the children in Elmwood Gardens. He can reach out to people through Weed and Seed. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to join us in these volunteer programs for your children. We welcome volunteerism.

The problem is volunteerism has been nonexistent. We would like to get to bond the community with the Police Department to work together for these children. We are trying to get a full time PAL program up and running, with mentoring programs, the after school programs, and public programs.

We need volunteers. So please feel free to contact me or Detective Pauly and we’ll see what we can do to work together.”

“Could I answer to that, Hello, I’m Allen Smith. I am the Weed and Seed Coordinator. I work directly with Lieutenant Shesko and pursuant to what she said; she is not just pulling a rabbit out of the hat. If you go to: http://www.coatesvillehappenings.org/ there’s a strategic plan which addresses many Weed and Seed oriented mentoring programs that work in conjunction with PAL. After about two years of assessment, we’ve already talked to the community; the community spoke, they’ve already spoke to us and told us that we need more opportunity to become mentors. In specific we are so grateful to be funded in this competitive grant funding cycle.

We will be looking for ten families. Ten at risk families to personally sponsor within an out of school time enhanced mentoring program which will assist PAL. As Lieutenant Shesko already spoke about, Detective Pauly mentors about 600 kids. But, currently our PAL programs our football program and baseball programs are kind of like a drop-off. But we’re going to be asking parents to get involved. We are going to be asking parents to come forward and become trained as mentors so we can lower that mentor ratio from about fifteen kids to one to about maybe three kids to one. When your kids see you, at their football games and their baseball games then they’re really going to perform. And we’re going to see less of the (bad) behaviors and more of the performance that is going to make our community proud.

It’s http://www.coatesvillehappenings.org/ there is a synopsis on our recent strategic plan concerning mentors.”

Reverend Dr. James Smith, “Let me ask you a question. “How long has this program been in existence and how much participation do you have in the community?”

Allen Smith, “Currently, the PAL program has been in existence for a long time.”

Dr. Smith, “I’m talking about Coatesville.”

Allen Smith, “The Weed and Seed Program, since 2002.”

Dr. Smith, “Wow”

Allen Smith, “The current strategic mission being youth focused is just under two years old. The first two years an assessment the new strategic plan just being formed. We’re hoping that the funding will get enhancement and underway this year.”

Dr. Smith, “And parent and men participation specifically.”

Allen Smith, “Yes, sir”

Dr. Smith, “How much of that do you have at this point?”

Allen Smith, “It is the focal point of it and we have action items that will feature us going door to door with announcements as well as traditional means of notification.

Pastor Harrris, “Let me finish this; let me do this my brothers and Reverend Smith, if you don’t mind dialoging about the Weed and Seed, after this.

I want to get to this and I have two more questions and then maybe we could bring the meeting to a close.”





Thursday, May 13, 2010

Harry Walker was there in Newburgh, NY

I think the worst, I hope the worst is behind us in Coatesville. Things don't seem to be so good  in the City that employed Harry Walker before he came to Coatesville. 

“The city put its hope last year in Lester Spellman, a music marketing guru from the Philadelphia area, for the first eight months of the year. Then officials fired him, claiming he failed to meet expectations. But it came months after Spellman admitted making an unauthorized $380,000 wire transfer to the embattled Savoy nightclub.
   
Spellman's ouster paved the way for his replacement, Harry Walker, a man whom the city was already paying $50,000 for a strategic plan for economic development. Two weeks after he got the job, Walker was fired, but the city continues to pay his tab for the consultant work.
   
The flip-flopping did nothing to advance Newburgh's growth, the city's political minority agree. At the end of the year when all the shouting was done, the city was left with one completed project – a fast food restaurant on Broadway.”
From:
January 22, 2003
By Kristina Wells
 Times Herald-Record

New York Times
May 13, 2010

New York Times
May 11, 2010

Representative Tim Hennessey’s office manager’s trial May 25, 2010

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
v.
Lisa A. Johnson

Cross Court Docket Nos: CR-0000343-09

Judge Assigned: Sarcione, Anthony A. Date Filed: 01/11/2010 Initiation Date: 12/03/2009

OTN: K8720412 Lower Court Docket No: CR-0000343-09

Initial Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge Final Issuing Authority: Migrated Judge

Arresting Agency: Coatesville City Police Dept Arresting Officer: Raech, Michael

STATUS INFORMATION
Criminal Trial 05/25/2010 9:00 am Courtroom 12 Judge Anthony A. Sarcione Scheduled

DEFENDANT INFORMATION
Date Of Birth: 08/01/1963 City/State/Zip: Coatesville, PA 19320


COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF CHESTER COUNTY DOCKET
Docket Number: CP-15-CR-0000111-2010
Court Case
CRIMINAL DOCKET


Also see;
State Rep. Tim Hennessey’s Office Manager’s crack trial scheduled for Monday

Questions and answers at the Community Information meeting regarding the fatal accident on May 5th



Citizen, “You say Coatesville Police Officers have training in cultural sensitivity. My question is; if they had training in cultural sensitivity why were officers out there, all over the street, cussing them out, being very disrespectful? Plenty of officers came to me to put the fires out, to talk the people so they wouldn’t react. So what kind of cultural sensitivity are you teaching these police officers and what kind ethics classes are they taking.”

Coatesville Police Lieutenant Shesko, “If something like that happens… If you have specific officers that you know that acted that way, please come see me and I will get to it and  it will be addressed.  And also keep in mind that as a result of the incident we had officers from almost every department in the County. There were over 50 officers there and they weren’t all Coatesville Police Officers. I can’t speak for all 50 of them.  There’s no way that we can supervise that many police officers spread out in the area that they were spread out in. But like I said we would be happy to look into it. If that occurred and you can tell me who that was, or give me information that will help me find out who that was…we’ll go back the scene and we'll see what we can do to find out who that officer was and I be happy to look into it.”

Another citizen would like to know if there was a dash camera on the vehicle that was involved in the accident.  She would like to know if, “the officer in fact did pull his weapon and if he admitted to such. Is there anything that occurred during the investigation part that you’ve found that perhaps could give information to enlighten us to why the officer discharged his weapon that so many people feel that they heard the discharge of a weapon.  So that we can get clarity on that and we can dispel that myth if it’s actually a myth.”

Lieutenant Shesko, “I can only give information which I have knowledge of and after speaking with the officers the indication that I have is that there was never a weapon drawn.
As far as the pursuit policy goes when it comes to pursuing stolen vehicles, our policy does permit for the pursuit of stolen vehicles.  The guidelines that have to with such is, given the time of day, the number of people out in the street and whether or not the pursuit is going to endanger innocent citizens, pedestrians on the street. We have to keep all that in mind all that to make a decision to whether it is safe to pursue that vehicle.”

Citizen, “Based on that information, would you then say that the reaction of the police officers was within the guidelines of the Coatesville Police Department’s for pursuing vehicles? In that residential area it happened about 9:00 on the bottom of 6th Avenue and Olive Street. It’s a high concentration area for not just children but for adults as well.”

Lieutenant Shesko, “Given the information that I have, based on their actions, yes it was within the Department’s Guidelines.  But please keep in mind that’s just a preliminary thing. We are still in the process of getting an internal investigation as far their actions as far as our policies which we’ve established. But right now based initial information, it appears to be within the guidelines, but the investigation is still going on.
As far as the dash cam, the vehicle involved is a newer vehicle and unfortunately has not been outfitted with a dash camera yet.”

Citizen, “When did you get the report the car was stolen? ..The way that I hear it the car had been going around in the community for a while and it was changing hands with different people…Did the officers know it was a stolen car?”

Lieutenant Shesko, Just prior they received information that the car was seen in the area and within minutes they had contact with the vehicle… Sir, I do not know exactly when the car was stolen; it was stolen in another jurisdiction. All I know is that the officers received a call from a citizen telling them that that stolen vehicle was in that area at that time.”

Recorded at the Community Information Meeting, Second Baptist Church, Coatesville, PA on September 8, 2010.

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

How the Community Information Meeting at the 2nd Baptist Church was conceived


“Just so that all of you will be aware;

On Friday we shared a meeting at City Hall and we shared a meeting at City Hall, whether you say some people we shared a meeting at City Hall and we felt because of this incident we could not and would not allow certain things to continue without at least addressing the Coatesville community.

Because there are so many and were so many questions and statements running rampant throughout the City. The least that we could do is give some information as to where the investigation was, some things about the accident and hopefully to answer some of the questions that you might have.

Now, the way the information was disseminated to the public most of it was by word of mouth and some flyers had gone out.  And unfortunately we don’t have everybody’s phone number.  We don’t have everybody’s address. But because we did not want to delay getting information to you, this was the best way that we thought we could get some information to you, that you could come, listen and even express yourselves concerning the tragedy that happened in our City.

So if some persons were not informed, I’m sorry. I don’t know however else we can do without as least getting some of us involved. However I’m grateful for those of you that did come and as it was stated earlier by Mr. Joe Carroll, hopefully this is not the last time we are going to have a meeting of such. So that you will know that in days to come that we should and shall have another situation, another meeting of such to give you updates, hello somebody, to give you updates on what has taken place already.

And for the most part some of you that want some kind of remedy to what’s happening I don’t have your address,  I don’t have your phone numbers and so the best way to do some things is to try to put some flyers out in the community, to call persons that you do know who will spread the word.

And to Olive Street, I was on Olive Street, yesterday, I was on Olive Street Thursday and I was on Olive Street to give all the information out that we were having a meeting on today. So that, so that, so that persons who have questions and persons who had information would come and disseminate this information to all of us as some of us are not.

As Lieutenant Brown has said, there is a whole lot of misinformation being given. When you sit in a beauty shop and somebody comes in and tells you all of what’s going on, then they’re misinformed. That’s why we want to have you here so that we can bring this to closure. And again my brothers and sisters we’re not here to argue with you, I know that there’s a lot of feelings involved. We only can give you what we have, thus far without… compromising information about the investigation. We can only give you what we have thus far and hopefully some of this can be satisfactory to you until all of it is brought to where it needs to be.”

 At the Community Information Meeting, Saturday May 8, 2010, Second Baptist Church, 856 Merchant Street, Coatesville, PA.

I want all Olive Street people from to stand up in this meeting right now.” (No one stood up).


“How did this meeting come to be? I want to know because; I want all Olive Street people from to stand up in this meeting right now.” 

“I am, I am very upset, because I live on Olive Street. I live feet from where I saw that boy die.  And I am very upset. All I want to know is who handled this. There’s nobody here but me, from Olive Street.

I was in my back yard and some man, that young man there was going around giving out flyers and he asked me to come…

My blood is boiling right now. I am going to put my stuff to the State Police right there. I’m not going to show anything that happened. I was there seconds from that impact, I heard it. But right now I’m tired of everybody here, who said this, who saw this; if you saw something, tell us!

OLIVE STREET, OLIVE STREET, I’M SORRY, I AM SO UPSET.. IT WAS SOMEONE’S SON. I’M THE ONLY ONE HERE FROM THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THAT’S NOT RIGHT!”

At the Community Information Meeting, Saturday May 8, 2010, Second Baptist Church, 856 Merchant Street, Coatesville, PA.

Pennsylvania State Police Corporal at the Second Baptist Church Community Information Meeting Saturday May 8th Answer to question.


To me, you know this Rasheem was not a thug, he was somebody’s little boy, probably somebody’s brother certainly somebody’s friend. That’s how we’re approaching this.

Speaking to a couple of, I think they were both addressed in questions, but a couple of things that I have heard and seen written were that there were people saying there were shots fired and there was an impact between the two vehicles. 


But I can say as the Criminal Investigation Supervisor, I’m overseeing what the forensic people are doing and what the investigators are doing… I personally was observing the forensic people going through the cars. And what I’m saying today is that, based on our observations of the vehicles there’s no physical evidence to show shots being fired or impact being made by that car, from that forensic evidence.

I’m also just empathizing that there’s much more we can do and we’re going to continue to follow up on those claims, the people that have said they’ve seen those things or heard those things. They need to come forward; we need to talk to them.