Illegal Gun Crackdown Underway In Bensalem

BENSALEM TOWNSHIP, PA —The Bensalem Township Police Department's patrols and traffic stops are taking guns off the streets.

Bensalem Police reported of several recent incidents that led to the removal of illegal guns and the arrest of those who should not possess firearms.

The following arrests over the last month are a few examples of the work police perform daily:

Unsupervised Children Found

On March 17, 2024, a gray Lincoln MKX was found to have a suspended registration, and a traffic stop was initiated.

The vehicle's driver was Darlene Chestnut, 32, from Windsor Avenue, Philadelphia, and the front seat passenger was Karrie Amaro, 28, from W. Westmoreland Street, Philadelphia.

A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a fresh bullet hole in the windshield, raw marijuana, a sandwich baggie with numerous vials of crack cocaine that were packaged for sale, and a loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm handgun.

Police also searched a hotel room associated with Chestnut and Amaro.

Four unsupervised children were discovered in the room, as well as prescription pills, THC gummies, a digital scale, and methamphetamine.

The four children were turned over to a family member.

Amaro was charged with Carrying Firearms without a License and narcotics violations, and Chestnut was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child and narcotics violations.

Black Handgun In Plain View

On April 4, a blue Saturn sedan made an illegal turn. The vehicle also displayed an unregistered license plate.

A traffic stop was initiated, and the car's driver was identified as Jermaine Beattie, 48, from W. Lehigh Avenue, Philadelphia.

Officers observed a black handgun in plain view on the floor of the passenger side and two bullet holes on the driver's side of the vehicle.

Jermaine Beattie had a suspended driver's license, did not possess a permit to carry, and was a felon not to possess a firearm. He was taken into custody and charged with Persons Not to Possess a Firearm and narcotics and traffic violations.

Burglary, Robbery Warrants

On April 13, a gray Chevrolet Tahoe had a faulty brake light, a broken mirror, and a suspended registration.

A traffic stop was initiated, and it was found that the driver of the vehicle, Brittany Dougherty, 33, from Fanshawe Street, Philadelphia, had an active retail theft warrant out of Bensalem for theft at the Kohl's Department store on March 5.

She also had a burglary warrant out of Camden County, NJ, and a Robbery warrant out of Evesham Township, NJ. The vehicle's passenger, Omar Pedro, 30, from Rutland Street, Philadelphia, also had a warrant for the same retail theft at Kohl's.and and a warrant out of Philadelphia. A search incident to arrest found that Omar Pedro had a handgun in his waistband and Brittany Dougherty had narcotics in her possession. Omar Pedro was charged with Persons not to Possess a Firearm, and Brittany Dougherty was charged with narcotics violations.

These are only a few examples of the exemplary police work that the Bensalem Township Patrol Division is doing daily.

Bensalem Police continue to enforce ALL PA Vehicle Code violations on all roadways.

The traffic violations led to the arrests and the removal of illegal guns from township streets, police said.