Police: Old Navy Manager Admits to Stealing Deposit and a Hit-and-Run on Kozy Korner Rd.

COOPERSBURG

Name: Matthew J. Snyder

DOB: 12/27/68

Address: Coopersburg

Date of Arrest:  3/9/11

Location of incident: N. Main Street, Coopersburg

Summary: Police were dispatched to a motor vehicle accident in Coopersburg. When police arrived, they found a silver Dodge pickup with passenger front-end damage. Police observed the damage seemed to be connected to damage along 14 feet of guardrail along the street. According to the criminal complaint, police “detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from [Snyder’s] person.” Snyder was unable to exit the vehicle or stand outside the vehicle without assistance from officers. Police called Snyder’s ex-wife, who confirmed Snyder had taken two Ambien pills with alcohol. Snyder was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest for a medical evaluation as well as a blood and toxicology report.

Charge:

1.     DUI- Combination of drugs and alcohol

2.     Failure to drive within a lane

3.     Careless driving

Name: Steven Michael Barnes

DOB: 6/24/81

Address: Telford, PA

Date of Arrest:  3/5/11

Location of incident: Coopersburg

Summary: On March 5, according to a criminal complaint, Upper Saucon police observed a car with a license plate light out. After pulling the vehicle over, police observed Barnes and a passenger in the vehicle with open containers of beer. The passenger provided registration showing the car was in her name. The passenger then consented to a police search. During the search, police found copper-screening material, a clear plastic bag with a substance that appeared to be crack cocaine. Police confirmed that the screen and plastic bag were in the foot well where the suspect was sitting. After being read his Miranda rights, Barnes admitted the baggie fell out of his shoe, the complaint said. A search of Barnes turned up a metal tube, which police suspect was used to smoke the crack, and two pills of Percocet. Barnes admitted the pills had not been prescribed, the complaint said.

Charge:

1.     Possession of a controlled substance

2.     Possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia

UPPER SAUCON

Name: Richard Norman Hamm II

DOB: 1/27/91

Address: Center Valley, PA

Date of Arrest:  1/19/11

Location of incident: Upper Saucon Township

Summary: According to the criminal complaint, on Jan. 19, police who were present at the residence of Richard Hamm (senior) observed “green vegetable matter” in the bedroom of Hamm (II). Hamm admitted to purchasing the substance earlier in the day. The substance tested positive for marijuana.

Charge:

1.     Criminal Conspiracy

2.     Possession of a controlled substance

Name: Krysti Fasching

DOB: 11/9/88

Address: Allentown

Date of Arrest:  3/6/11

Location of incident: Upper Saucon Township

Summary: No summary given in criminal complaint

Charge:

1.     DUI-General Impairment (First offense)

2.     DUI-High rate of alcohol (between .10 and .16 percent within two hours of being pulled over)

3.     Careless driving

4.     Maximum speed limits

5.     Failure to drive within lane

Name: Terra Lynn Reiss

DOB: 10/15/86

Address: Hellertown

Date of Arrest:  3/6/11

Location of incident: Upper Saucon Township

Summary: Upper Saucon police were notified of a hit and run at Kozy Korner Road and Limeport Pike. When police arrived, the victim informed police that she was traveling on Limeport Pike approaching the “T” at Kozy Korner Road. The victim attempted to make a left onto Kozy Korner when a Nissan driving east on Kozy Korner hit her.

A passing motorist observed the accident and saw the Nissan flee the scene. The witness was able to write down the license plate number. Using the number, police connected the car to Reiss, according to the criminal complaint.

Upper Saucon police had Lower Saucon police go to the address Reiss had listed on her registration, but found no one home. Two hours later, police received a call from Reiss to report the accident. According to the criminal complaint, Reiss admitted to driving the Nissan and stated that it had been in an accident. She also confirmed her Social Security number and date of birth. Reiss refused to tell police where she was because, according to the complaint, “she didn’t want to get arrested because she had a test tomorrow.” She refused to tell police what school she went to and said she fled the scene because she had outstanding warrants for unpaid fines.

Charge:

1.     Accidents involving damage to attended vehicle or property

2.     Failure to notify police of an accident

3.     Duty to render aid and give information

4.     Stop sign violation

Name: Kurt Laudenslager

DOB: 5/30/71

Address: Bethlehem

Date of Arrest:  3/3/11

Location of incident: Old Navy at the Promenade Shops, Upper Saucon

Summary: Upper Saucon police working at the Promenade Shops were called to the Old Navy store for a report of theft by an employee. The loss prevention specialist present at Old Navy said she received a notice from the Old Navy corporate office that on March 2, there was a missing deposit in the amount of $1,023.39, according to the criminal complaint. Film footage showed the manager on duty March 2 was Laudenslager. When contacted, Laudenslager freely admitted to taking the money, and signed a confession for Old Navy personnel, the complaint said. Laudenslager then agreed to come into the police station. Laudenslager admitted he stole the money to pay traffic citations, cover a bounced check and buy groceries, the complaint said.

Charge:

1.     Theft by unlawful taking

2.     Receiving stolen property

Name: Benito Priciliano Vasquez

DOB: 1/4/50

Address: Allentown

Date of Arrest:  3/15/11

Location of incident: I-78 Westbound near exit 60B in Upper Saucon Township

Summary: On March 15, state police observed a green Ford Ranger traveling westbound less than one car length behind a tan Toyota Corolla. After pulling over the Ranger, police identified Vasquez as the operator. According to the criminal complaint, “Vasquez was visibly shaking and stated that he lost his license and registration ‘yesterday.’ [Officers observed Vasquez’s] carotid artery visibly pulsating.” Police asked for consent to search the vehicle, and Vasquez consented. During the search police found a small package, which field-tested positive for cocaine, the complaint said. A field weight found the package was approximately eight grams. Police also found a cell phone and $1,808 that the criminal complaint said “is consistent with the sale of a controlled substance.”   

Charge:

1.     Possession

2.     Possession with intent to deliver