Police said assailant seized prescription medication, fled
Coatesville Police responded to an assault on Friday at 2:32 p.m. in the 200 block of West Lincoln Highway, Det. Shannon Miller reported. During the investigation, it was determined that Cruz Pizarro, 49, of Coatesville, had choked the victim at knifepoint while demanding prescription medication, police said. The victim, who did not require medical treatment, gave Pizarro an amount of pills, and he fled the area prior to officers’ arrival, police said.
Pizarro was taken into custody a short time later after fleeing into a residence in the 200 block of West Diamond Street; he was charged with assault, robbery, and related offenses, police said. During his arraignment, Pizarro’s preliminary hearing was scheduled for Sept. 9, and he was transported to Chester County Prison after failing to post $25,000 bail, court records said.
On Thursday at 12:20 p.m., Cpl. Jonathan Shave received a fraud complaint from Coatesville Savings Bank, police said. An investigation showed that John Rothwell, 55, of Coatesville, had passed several fraudulent U.S. Postal Service money orders, and attempted to pass additional ones, before being refused by bank staff, police said. Rothwell faces charges that include forgery, theft, and receiving stolen property, police said.
Police responded to the 100 block of East Lincoln Highway on Saturday at 8:32 p.m., Officer Stephen Galletta reported. At the scene, officers found Debra Carroll, 45, of Honey Brook, lying in the roadway, police said. Carroll was under the influence of alcohol and possibly prescription drugs to a degree that made her a danger to herself and the public, police said. Carroll was transported to Brandywine Hospital for a possible overdose and was cited for public drunkenness, police said.
On Sunday at about 8:40 p.m., an unknown person entered a vehicle that did not belong to him in the unit block of South Fifth Avenue and drove away, Officer Guy Bruchstein reported. The victim said the vehicle was unattended with the motor running when it was taken, police said. About 20 minutes later, officers located the stolen vehicle about two blocks away; it was unoccupied with no one in the vicinity, police said. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 610-384-2300.
On Thursday at 7:03 a.m., Cpl. Jonathan Shave responded to the 600 block of Victoria Drive for a criminal-mischief report involving an automobile, police said. The victim said she discovered that all four tires on her vehicle had been slashed, and her rear-view mirrors knocked off, police said, adding that the vandalism is under investigation.
