Burglary added to man’s complaint after he allegedly flees into random home
After Coatesville Police Officer Joseph Thompson attempted to stop a vehicle on Walnut Street near Pennsylvania Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 2:30 pm., the driver accelerated, ran a stop sign at Walnut and Pennsylvania Avenue, pulled over, exited the vehicle, and prompted a foot pursuit, police said. The driver, identified as Gupree B. White, 25, of Coatesville, entered a home in the 700 block of East Lincoln Highway, where he was subsequently taken into custody by Det. Shannon Miller, police said.
Further investigation revealed that White, who has both a bench warrant and criminal warrant in Chester County, committed a burglary when he entered a random residence to elude officers, police said. White, who was carrying an undisclosed amount of currency that was seized by police, faces charges that include burglary, criminal trespass, flight to avoid apprehension, fleeing and eluding, driving under suspension, and traffic offenses, police said.
On Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 8:01 a.m., Coatesville Officer Miguel A. Ortiz responded to the 600 block of Belmont Ave for a robbery call, police said. Upon arrival, Ortiz made contact with the 45-year-old female victim, who said an unknown black male wearing all dark clothing and displaying a small black handgun took her handbag by force and left the area, police said. The suspect was last seen going westbound on Belmont Street and northbound on Pearl Alley, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 610-384-2300; anonymous tips can be generated by using the Coatesville PD Tips app or by texting the keyword of Coatesville and a message to 847411.
Police said Officer Kirt Guyer observed Helbert Mercado – known to have a felony warrant for forgery – in the 300 block of East Lincoln Highway on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 6:54 p.m. Police Mercado, 32, of Coatesville, was taken into custody without incident, arraigned by the on-call magisterial district judge, and remanded to Chester County Prison after failing to post 10 percent of $5,000 bail.
