Coatesville Dems: The City of Coatesville Police Department is an excellent example of “community policing.” "As the officer stepped onto the porch, continuing with the verbal commands, the subject said "no" and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the officer's chest…

"Davis saw Watson approach him in his rearview mirror before Davis pulled over after driving a short distance. With the violence demonstrated toward Davis, Laufer said the officer could have justifiably used deadly force, but instead he used his judgment and pulled out his Taser – which he did not use.

“Even during the injuring of an officer, the rights of Eric were not breached,” Watson Sr. wrote.

Officer Jared Davis. Keep that name in mind as you read:

I believe Coatesville Detective Joe Thompson will be investigating this murder as he does the 13 unsolved murders in Coatesville.

It's extremely hard to investigate murders here. Witnesses are easily intimidated.

In most small American towns people move around a lot. Like my family many Coatesville families go back a century or more. Who is related to who and where they live are known.

I sat in with District Attorney Joe Carroll while he spoke to parents who lost their college freshman daughter who was in the wrong place when an execution shooting went down. It was heartbreaking to listen.

That so many Coatesville residents helped Coatesville Police apprehend Stephen Young is a testimony that Coatesville residents trust and depend on Coatesville Police.

On Thursday I was in Coatesville's West End driving back from Aldi Market when I had to get over for a State Police vehicle driving at high speed down Lincoln Highway. When I reached Pennsylvania Avenue Lincoln Highway was shut down and I needed to use other streets to get home.

I knew something happened. I thought "Another shooting."

"At 11:47 a.m. on Aug. 27, Coatesville City Police Officers were dispatched to 22 N. 7th Ave. because two witnesses reported seeing Stephen Young return to the residence with a gun.

Stephen Derez Young

Coatesville City Police Officer J. Davis was the first to arrive at the location, and observed a male on the front porch matching the description provided, the D.A.'s report said.

As Davis got out of his police vehicle, he told the man to come off the porch so they could talk. Police said the man started to back into the residence. As the officer stepped onto the porch, continuing with the verbal commands, the subject said "no" and pointed a black semi-automatic handgun at the officer's chest. The police officer took cover to avoid being shot, and the man backed into the residence and shut the door, police reported.

Police said about 30 law enforcement units set up a perimeter around 22 N. 7th Ave. At 12:51 p.m., Young surrendered to police by walking out the front door of the residence. Officers then recovered a black semi-automatic 9 mm handgun from the residence.

After Young was in police custody, Coatesville City Police Chief Jack Laufer thanked Coatesville City Police Officers, Chester County Detectives, and numerous other police officers for their efforts.

"This very dangerous individual, Stephen D. Young, was apprehended quickly without further loss of life. The safety of our community is of utmost importance, and removing criminals with no regard for life is our top priority," Laufer said.

The District Attorney's Office said Young is charged with first-degree murder and related offenses.

Anyone with further information concerning this homicide is asked to call the Coatesville City Police Department at 610-384-2300 or the Chester County Detectives at 610-344-6866."

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Shooting, Blood Trail, Witnesses Led Police Into Standoff

"Davis saw Watson approach him in his rearview mirror before Davis pulled over after driving a short distance. With the violence demonstrated toward Davis, Laufer said the officer could have justifiably used deadly force, but instead he used his judgment and pulled out his Taser – which he did not use.

“Even during the injuring of an officer, the rights of Eric were not breached,” Watson Sr. wrote.

Davis was recently verbally threatened in an unrelated incident.

Police said that Gerome Darnell Gray Jr., 22, of West Chester, allegedly threatened Davis July 9 when he attempted to disperse a group and arrested someone for disorderly conduct. According to the police and the criminal complaint, Gray reportedly said, “Davis, I’m going to f— you up.”

“It is with regret and admiration that I write to your department,” Eric Watson Sr. began his letter.

Police said Officer Jared T. Davis was on patrol in a marked police vehicle when Eric L. Watson, 29, of Coatesville, allegedly threw a large rock at Davis’ vehicle, cracking the front windshield.

Eric L. Watson Coatesville PD

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Police said during the struggle to get Watson to the ground to take into custody, an officer who assisted was injured.

“The regret is that your Officer (Detective) Joseph Thompson was injured in a confrontation with my son Eric Watson,” said Watson Sr. “I would like to extend my sincere apology to the injured officer, his family and your department at this time.”

Thompson suffered from a fractured sternum. He was treated at Paoli Hospital.

“This apology I also extend to Officer Jared Davis who must have been traumatized by the experience of being attacked by Eric,” Watson Sr. said.

Coatesville police Chief Jack Laufer said when the police hear an apology, it is usually verbal.

“We don’t often get a personal apology from a family member,” Laufer said, including letters.

Both of Eric Watson’s parents apologized in person to police.

Watson Sr. thanked Davis, the Coatesville Police Department officers and the leadership by Laufer for their professionalism during the incident and their assistance afterward.

“In admiration, I want to commend the action taken by Officer Jared Davis by displaying professionalism beyond the norm in a time when madness seem to be the order of the day and the lives of the officers in blue are in danger,” Watson Sr. wrote in his letter.

This incident occurred in the midst of national protests after police shootings in July that killed Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile in St. Paul, Minn., both black men. The assault on the Coatesville officer also came after police were killed, three in Baton Rouge and five in Dallas, in addition to those injured.

Laufer said they learned that this incident did not occur as an act of hate toward police. He said the letter showed that. He said when the community read the letter they were reassured of that and it reinforced that it was not a direct attack on law enforcement or the Coatesville police.

“I think it makes the city feel better,” Laufer said. “Was it a violent crime? Yes and he’ll have to answer for his actions. Maybe this will help him to get the help he needs.”

The Watson family had been trying to find Eric for the past two years, according to Laufer. When they heard the news, they traveled to the police station and apologized for his conduct, Laufer said. He informed Thompson, who is home recovering for the next several weeks, about the letter. Thompson told him he appreciated the note.

“They’re a good, solid family with connections to law enforcement and the military,” Laufer said about the Watson family. “Being in law enforcement (the father) appreciated how bad it could have been.”

Davis saw Watson approach him in his rearview mirror before Davis pulled over after driving a short distance. With the violence demonstrated toward Davis, Laufer said the officer could have justifiably used deadly force, but instead he used his judgment and pulled out his Taser – which he did not use.