Arrests made for retail theft, illegal firearm
On May 8, at 8:37 p.m., Bensalem Police were called to the Walmart on Horizon Boulevard to investigate a retail theft in progress. Walmart employees reported that a male and female were inside the store concealing items in Walmart bags that they had brought with them.
Police were waiting as the male exited the store first. As the officer attempted to take Beau Booth, 41, of James Street, Philadelphia, into custody, he began to resist and fight with the officer. A second officer arrived to assist, and he was taken into custody. Officers removed a small shoulder bag from around his chest, and they discovered a Walther .22 caliber semi-automatic handgun, which was fully loaded, with the safety off.
He initially gave officers a false name twice, but then admitted to his real name. A criminal history check showed that Booth had a felony conviction that precluded him from carrying a firearm. Booth has active arrest warrants out of Philadelphia for a probation violation on an assault, a Bucks County warrant for Flight to Avoid Prosecution, a Montgomery County warrant for Fleeing and Eluding, and a parole warrant for a robbery out of Harrisburg PD. He also had the Walmart bag with the stolen items inside and pills that were not prescribed to him.
A short time later, the female, Kathryn Stewart, 32, of Fitzgerald Street, Philadelphia, exited the store and was taken into custody. She also gave police false names twice before police discovered her real name. A check of her name revealed that she had an active warrant out of the Bucks County Sheriff’s Department for a parole violation on a forgery charge. She also had stolen items from Walmart in a bag and a glass pipe that is commonly used to smoke methamphetamine.
Booth was charged with Persons Not to Possess a Firearm, Retail Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, Carrying a Firearm without a License, and narcotics violations. He was arraigned by District Justice Gary Gambardella and remanded to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $270,000 bail. Stewart was charged with Retail Theft, Receiving Stolen Property, False Identification to Law Enforcement, and narcotics violations. She was arraigned by Gambardella and remanded on 10 percent of $25,000 bail.
Bensalem Police remove another gun, felon, drugs from the streets
On May 11, at 1:10 a.m., a Bensalem Police officer observed a white Nissan Maxima with vehicle code violations and conducted a traffic stop. Officers approached the vehicle and identified the driver as Robert Rice, 34, of 35th Street, Philadelphia. The officer detected a strong odor of raw marijuana in the vehicle. Rice did not have a medical marijuana card and was observed concealing items in the center console.
Backup officers arrived, and Rice refused to exit the vehicle when asked. He began to struggle with officers, but was detained. Officers then observed a firearm on the rear passenger floorboard in plain view. The vehicle was towed, and a search warrant was obtained. During the subsequent search of the vehicle, police recovered a Taurus .45 caliber semi-automatic handgun and marijuana. Police also seized drug paraphernalia, including baggies, rubber bands and a digital scale.
Officers conducted a criminal history search and found that Rice had a robbery conviction, which precluded him from possessing a firearm. Rice was charged with Persons Not to Possess a Firearm, Firearms Not to be Carried without a License, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. District Justice Brian Marriott (Richboro) arraigned him, and Bensalem Police requested high bail during the proceeding. Marriott remanded Rice to the Bucks County Correctional Facility on 10 percent of $50,000.
Liquor store theft
Bensalem Police are investigating a theft that occurred at the Fine Wine & Good Spirits, 680 Rockhill Drive, on May 2. At approximately 1 p.m., it was reported that an unknown black male entered the store and stole two bottles of “1800 Tequila,” valued at $65. If you have any information regarding his identity, submit an anonymous tip online at bucks.crimewatchpa.com/bensalempd/ or call Bensalem Police at 215-633-3719.
Crucifix theft
In the early afternoon of May 11, residents who live near the former St. Katharine Drexel Shrine observed two subjects entering the closed property. Approximately 45 minutes later, the two males emerged from the building carrying a crucifix that was located in the Motherhouse. The males then left the area. If you have any information on their identities, submit an anonymous tip online at bucks.crimewatchpa.com/bensalempd/ or call Bensalem Police at 215-633-3719.
PA Chiefs Association meeting
Bensalem director of public safety William McVey and members of the Bensalem Township Police Department attended the monthly meeting of the Police Chiefs Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Wayne Jacobs, the special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia office, was in attendance, and discussed the FBI’s priorities regarding counterterrorism, violent crimes, hate crimes and crimes against the elderly.
Additional felony charge against child pornography offender
In June 2023, Justin Refsnyder was arrested for child pornography and related offenses. While on bail and awaiting his preliminary hearing, Lower Southampton Police received a CyberTip from Microsoft, which indicated that Refsnyder had disseminated explicit images of himself to a minor in March 2024. An additional felony charge was filed against him on May 8. Refsnyder waived all charges to Doylestown.
Robbery/assault arrest
On May 13, Shane Ryan Black was arrested and remanded to the Bucks County Prison on $25,000 bail for a robbery/assault near the 2300 block of Brownsville Road in Lower Southampton Township on May 9.
During the incident, Black made numerous threats and was armed with a knife. He fled the victim’s stolen property prior to police arrival. An arrest warrant was filed.
