C.C. reader. ([Middletown, Pa.]) 1973-1982, November 01, 1979, Image 1
Pennsylvania State University at Capitol Campus C MC. Illre 0 411 ir Vol. 9 No. 5 Pharmacy robbers fled to Heights two students mistaken for them by jeff drinnan An armed robbery of a phar macy in Highspire occured Fri day, October 5 At 7:30 p.m., two men carrying three handguns stole a car after robbing the pharmacy, and literally ditched the car near the entrance to Meade Heights. At about that time, Officer James Fry of Campus Police spotted two men running through the woods leading to the Heights. The suspects had been described as two black males, both over six feet tall, one wearing a blue windbreaker and the other a tan, and both wearing white basketball sneakers, ac cording to Patrolman Steven Shaver of the Highspire Police Department. Shortly thereafter, Pat Murphy, Head of Residence Liv ing, informed campus residents On October 17 and 18 our campus was host from all over the country. This workshop to stay in their houses and lock the doors. • According to Shaver, a man hunt ensued which involved five or six police departments in the area, as well as the state police. While making a reconnaissance around Meade Heights, the Hummelstown police observed two men they believed to be the suspects, Shaver said. Later, police stopped and searched Erik. Shelton and Jeff Griffin, two Capitol Campus' students, in Meade Heights. Shelton and Griffin had been driving in a car through the Heights - when a police car ap proached them. Shelton said he drove over to the police car and rolled his window down. The officer then pulled a gun on Shelton and Griffin, ordered them out of the car, and spread eagled them against the car. They were told "Don't move a to an arson investigation workshop featuring experts was sponsored by the office of continuing education. photo by mike kondor muscle," according to Shelton. At that point, Officer Fry of Campus Police arrived on the scene. Shelton said he asked Fry to identify him since they were acquainted with each other. After some persuasion, Fry did eventually identify the student. When questioned later by the C.C.Reader about this incident, Fry said that he had no further connection with the case after the outside police were called in. Shelton charged that the po lice didn't have just cause to search him and Griffin because they were not wearing clothes like those the suspects were reported wearing, and both were under six feet tall. Shelton said he "was definitely harassed, e motionally.. load PolchokWicallY" by having a gun pehited at him and being stopped and searched. Patrolman Shaver said that "the officers had enough prob- National Arson Experts by mike kondor A two-day Arson Invest igation and Litigation mini course was held October 17 and 18 at Capitol Campus. The course was organised by Ronald Melchiorre, continuing education director at Capitol, and was attended by insur ance company personnel, law enforcement agents, and fire chiefs and marshals. Instructors for the course includedi- Stephen Cozen, an attorney from Philadelphia, Pa., who gave a general over view of the arson problem. M. Stuart Goldin, also a Philadelphia attorney, who presented the plaintiffs point of view Mac Thompson, assistant vice president in the under writing department of the Transamerica Insurance Co., Los Angeles, Calif., who spoke on the "Impact of Underwriting-It's Effect on Arson." Instructed Workshops Here 1 November 1979 able cause" to pull a gun and to stop and search Shelton and Griffin. He said their description "matched closely" that of the robbers except for the height, al though the police did not know at that time whether or not the men they were looking for were clean shaven. He stressed that the robbers were carrying three handguns. When police discover ed that both robbers were clean shaven and noted that Shelton had a beard, Shelton and Griffin were released, Shaver explained. Wes Ross, one of about fif teen witnesses at the scene when Shelton and Griffin were stop ped, said he and others told police that they knew Shelton and Griffin. He added that there were about six policemen and that they had guns drawn on the two students. The police told the onlookers to move on and threat ened to start taking names if they didn't, Ross said. Chris Campos, C.P.A., from Teaneck, N.J., who gave the accountant's point of view. Guy Kornblum, attorney, from San Francisco, Calif., who gave a presentation en titled "Comments with Re spect to Punitive Damages." Thomas Minnich, from the Penna. State Police Fire Mar shal's Office, who conducted the field exercises. David Strawbridge, former United States Attorney who is now associ ated with the Philadelphia law firm of Cozen, Begier, and O'Connor, gave the public prosecutor's point of view. Melchiorre stressed that all the "instructors" volun teered their time free of charge, and added: "We could never afford to run this pro gram if we had to pay these people." Cozen, calling the Capitol Campus event a "terrific con- continued on page 3