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PYLYMOUTH — A 17-year-old male from Norristown was adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court after admitting he assaulted a bicyclist on the Schuylkill River Trail in the Conshohocken section of Plymouth township. During last week’s altercation, the cyclist fired a gun at the teenager’s bicycle, hitting its rear tire.
When Plymouth Township police went to the home of the teenager’s father to arrest the juvenile, they discovered an alleged “bicycle chop shop” in the basement that included nearly 20 bicycles and bike parts suspected of being stolen, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.
The DA, who was joined by police and detectives from Plymouth and Norristown police departments, displayed the contraband inside a sally port at Plymouth Police Department.
Investigators are seeking the public’s help to identify the bikes, many of which are Mongoose BMX brand.
“Dozens, maybe even 100 bikes, were moved through this (Norristown) residence,” Ferman said.
On Wednesday, July 22, Plymouth police received reports of shots fired on the bike path, and a 27-year-old Norristown man, Joseph James DePaul Jr., called police to report he had fired a weapon after two teenagers harassed him on the trail.
As DePaul tried to get onto the bike trail in Conshohocken around 8:30 p.m., two juveniles on bikes reportedly blocked his path. Though DePaul was able to get around them, both juveniles followed him, according to the DA’s Office.
After the teens passed the 27-year-old cyclist, the juveniles collided with each other, and as DePaul rode by them, they “exchanged words” with him.
Soon after, the 17-year-old got back on his BMX bike and chased DePaul, and after catching up to him kicked him causing him to nearly lose control of his bike and hit a fence.
DePaul admitted that he drew his Keltec .380 caliber handgun and fired six shots in the direction of the teen who had kicked him. One bullet struck and flattened the rear tire of the fleeing bicycle. The juvenile was about 200 to 250 feet away at the time, authorities said. At the time of the incident, DePaul had a legal permit to carry the weapon.
Two days after the shooting, county Sheriff John P. Durante exercised his authority to revoke DePaul’s firearm license on the grounds of endangering public safety. The Sheriff’s Department also is authorized to issue gun permits and operates independently of the district attorney.
Though the armed man was initially facing attempted murder and manslaughter charges, Ferman said she would likely withdraw the most serious charges, including attempted murder.
“It warrants re-examination,” she said. “DePaul was a victim of assault, and in his mind he was acting in self-defense.”
Another factor bolstering DePaul’s self-defense claim is that following the attack on him, he lost sight of the other juvenile suspect and became concerned.
“Based on all the information available to us now, it appears that under the circumstances his actions were reasonable,” Ferman said.
In recent months, countywide reports of harassment of cyclists on the river trail have risen, although no specific figures were available. Norristown police and county sheriff’s deputies have beefed up patrols since meeting with a cycling group in June.
“People riding bikes shouldn’t have to worry about things like this happening on the bike trail,” she said, and encouraged anyone running into trouble to contact local police immediately.
Besides police and deputies patrolling the recreational route, Ferman said authorities will employ stealthier enforcement methods.
“You’re going to see some undercover operations,” she said.
PYLYMOUTH — A 17-year-old male from Norristown was adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court after admitting he assaulted a bicyclist on the Schuylkill River Trail in the Conshohocken section of Plymouth township. During last week’s altercation, the cyclist fired a gun at the teenager’s bicycle, hitting its rear tire.
When Plymouth Township police went to the home of the teenager’s father to arrest the juvenile, they discovered an alleged “bicycle chop shop” in the basement that included nearly 20 bicycles and bike parts suspected of being stolen, according to Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman.
The DA, who was joined by police and detectives from Plymouth and Norristown police departments, displayed the contraband inside a sally port at Plymouth Police Department.
Investigators are seeking the public’s help to identify the bikes, many of which are Mongoose BMX brand.
“Dozens, maybe even 100 bikes, were moved through this (Norristown) residence,” Ferman said.
On Wednesday, July 22, Plymouth police received reports of shots fired on the bike path, and a 27-year-old Norristown man, Joseph James DePaul Jr., called police to report he had fired a weapon after two teenagers harassed him on the trail.
As DePaul tried to get onto the bike trail in Conshohocken around 8:30 p.m., two juveniles on bikes reportedly blocked his path. Though DePaul was able to get around them, both juveniles followed him, according to the DA’s Office.
After the teens passed the 27-year-old cyclist, the juveniles collided with each other, and as DePaul rode by them, they “exchanged words” with him.
Soon after, the 17-year-old got back on his BMX bike and chased DePaul, and after catching up to him kicked him causing him to nearly lose control of his bike and hit a fence.
DePaul admitted that he drew his Keltec .380 caliber handgun and fired six shots in the direction of the teen who had kicked him. One bullet struck and flattened the rear tire of the fleeing bicycle. The juvenile was about 200 to 250 feet away at the time, authorities said. At the time of the incident, DePaul had a legal permit to carry the weapon.
Two days after the shooting, county Sheriff John P. Durante exercised his authority to revoke DePaul’s firearm license on the grounds of endangering public safety. The Sheriff’s Department also is authorized to issue gun permits and operates independently of the district attorney.
Though the armed man was initially facing attempted murder and manslaughter charges, Ferman said she would likely withdraw the most serious charges, including attempted murder.
“It warrants re-examination,” she said. “DePaul was a victim of assault, and in his mind he was acting in self-defense.”
Another factor bolstering DePaul’s self-defense claim is that following the attack on him, he lost sight of the other juvenile suspect and became concerned.
“Based on all the information available to us now, it appears that under the circumstances his actions were reasonable,” Ferman said.
In recent months, countywide reports of harassment of cyclists on the river trail have risen, although no specific figures were available. Norristown police and county sheriff’s deputies have beefed up patrols since meeting with a cycling group in June.
“People riding bikes shouldn’t have to worry about things like this happening on the bike trail,” she said, and encouraged anyone running into trouble to contact local police immediately.
Besides police and deputies patrolling the recreational route, Ferman said authorities will employ stealthier enforcement methods.
“You’re going to see some undercover operations,” she said.
