Coatesville Police say he also illegally possessed firearm
A 41-year-old Coatesville man faces multiple charges after police said he struck pedestrians while driving drunk and illegally possessed a firearm. Coatesville Police Officer Joseph Norcini reported that Marty Harrell, a convicted felon, struck pedestrians in the unit block of Strode Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 7:26 p.m.
Harrell, who showed signs of intoxication, was found to be in illegal possession of a firearm after an inventory search of his vehicle was conducted prior to its being towed, police said. The pedestrians were transported to Brandywine Hospital for treatment, police said; no other information was available on them. Harrell was arraigned and taken to Chester County Prison after failing to post $75,000 cash bail, police said. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13 on charges that include driving with a blood-alcohol level of more than 0.16, illegal possession of a firearm, and reckless driving, court records said.
On Sunday, Jan. 5, at 3:04 a.m., Coatesville Cpl. Jonathan Shave observed a silver Nissan Versa almost strike another officer’s car and speed away in the 400 block of Valley Road, police said. The driver, Alisynn Fortson, 26, of Coatesville, was stopped and found to be under the influence of alcohol, police said. Fortson refused to provide a blood sample and was processed and released on a summons, police said.
Officers on patrol in the 100 block of North Seventh Avenue observed a fight in front of the VFW on Wednesday, Jan. 1, at 2:18 a.m., between a member of the bar’s security staff and Chekesha Thompson, 37, of Coatesville, Officer Chris McCarthy reported. Officers took Thompson, who was heavily intoxicated, to the station, where she urinated in a cell, police said. Thompson was charged with institutional vandalism, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness, police said.
Officer Chris McCarthy responded to JB’s Web Bar in the 300 block of West Lincoln Highway on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 2:18 a.m., for a disturbance, police said. Two employees reported that they had been pepper-sprayed by Adriene R. Rodriguez, 27, of Coatesville, who was intoxicated, police said. Rodriguez left before officers arrived and will be cited, police said.
On Friday, Jan. 3, at 6:16 p.m., Officer Chris McCarthy responded to the 100 block of West Lincoln Highway for a report of a person lying in the snow, police said. Upon arrival, McCarthy found Demetrius Dixon, who is homeless, so intoxicated that he was unable to walk, police said. He was taken to the station, cited, and held until he was sober, police said.
While responding to a disturbance in the unit block of South Sixth Avenue on Saturday, Jan. 4, at 11:26 p.m., police came into contact with Josahfa Bahena-Vasquez of Coatesville, Officer Chris McCarthy reported. Bahena-Vasquez, who had a warrant from Hudson County, New Jersey, for a prostitution offense, was taken into custody without incident, police said. Bahena-Vasquez, who also had an immigration detainer, was taken to Chester County Prison after failing to post $10,000 cash bail, police said.
