Police, paramedics respond to shooting in Reading

Police and paramedics are on the scene of a reported shooting in Reading.


Emergency crews were dispatched shortly after 1:30 p.m. Tuesday to the area of Green and Mulberry streets.


Numerous police officers were on scene, with crime scene tape stretching across Green Street.


Officials on the scene have not yet provided any information about the victim.


A 69 News crew is on the scene. Refresh this page for updates as information becomes available.






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Can you ID person who allegedly called in threat to courthouse?

Officials in Montgomery County want to know if you can identify the person in surveillance photos--this person may be the one who called in bomb threats to the courthouse last week.


The threat was phoned in to the Norristown police department around 8:30 a.m. Thursday.


According to police, the caller said: "This is serious. There's explosives and bombs in the courthouse."


A similar call came into the 911 call center a short time later, officials said.


The courthouse was evacuated while police and K9 units swept the building. No bomb was found and people were allowed back in shortly before 11 a.m.


Investigators determined the original phone call was made from a payphone at the 7-Eleven store at 1503 W. Main Street in West Norriton Township.


The second was made from a mobile phone in the area of West Main Street and Hamilton Street in Norristown.


The same man who made a call from the payphone at 7-Eleven at 8:32 a.m. also made one at 8:06 a.m. and officials released photos with hopes that someone can identify him.


Anyone with information on the identity of the man in these photos, or who saw him near the 7-Eleven or near Main and Hamilton streets on the morning of January 29, is asked to call Montgomery County detectives at 610-278-3368 during regular hours or 610-275-1222 after hours.






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Police shooting of knife-wielding man justified, officials rule

Three Phillipsburg police officers have been vindicated in their fatal shooting of a knife-wielding man back in November.


On November 17, police responded to 463 S. Main Street for a report of a man who had sent threatening messages to another person.


Three officers found 36-year-old Thomas Read Jr. on the first floor, waving a knife in a threatening way who refused to come outside.


According to police, Read refused to drop the knife and charged the officers, who fired shots at Read.


He died the next day at St. Luke's Hospital of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Lehigh County coroner.


Police said all three officers fired at Read, and all were placed on administrative leave.


The Warren County prosecutor's office conducted a complete investigation, which determined that the use of deadly force was justified.


No criminal charges are warranted said Richard Burke, county prosecutor.






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Police: Man in reported child luring case was good Samaritan

Police have resolved one of a few attempted child luring cases reported in Berks County over the past week.


One of the latest incidents was reported to have occurred around 9 a.m. Monday in the area of Grandview Drive and Pennwyn Place in Cumru Township.


A 15-year-old Governor Mifflin High School student was walking to her school bus stop when, police said, an older man stopped his vehicle and asked the girl if she needed a ride.


"No, I'm walking to the bus stop," the girl replied, according to police.


The men then stated, "Well, get in. I'm going that way."


The student replied, "No thanks. I'm fine."


The man then drove away, police said.


Further investigation on Tuesday resulted in police identifying the driver and determining that he was acting as a good Samaritan who was offering the girl a ride because of the inclement weather.


No criminal intent existed and no charges will be filed, police said.


Police continue to investigate other recent reports of child luring attempts in Berks County, including the botched abduction of an 11-year-old child on North Park Road in Wyomissing on Monday.






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Recovering addicts turn struggles into success with 24ave.com

They turned their struggles with addiction into a website and online community dedicated to recovery, sobriety, and mindful living.



It's called 24ave.com.



Founders Kerri Jo Kahn and Frankie Aulicino sat down with WFMZ's Eve Tannery on 69 News at Sunrise to tell us more.



Click the video link attached to this article to see Kerri and Frankie's interview.






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Police release artist's sketch of alleged 'distraction burglar'

Police in New Jersey have released an artist's sketch of a man suspected in 'distraction burglaries' in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania in recent months.


Police in Pohatcong Township, Warren County, said there were several of these types of crime in the township in July 2014.


In these incidents, the suspects, described as Hispanic men, told residents they were employees of the water company. One of them distracted the victim while the other entered the home and stole valuable belongings.


In recent months, other similar incidents have been reported in both N.J. and Pennsylvania, and the description of the suspects are very similar.


According to Pohatcong police, these suspects use numerous different styles of vehicles--none of which has water company markings, and the suspects do not have water company credentials.


A similar incident was reported in Palmer Township, Northampton County, Pa., on January 27.


Police are asking residents to notify elderly parents, grandparents, friends or neighbors to be alert and vigilant for these suspects.


Anyone who sees anything that matches the description of these suspects or their vehicles is asked to contact their local police right away.


Pohatcong Police said these suspects have not been seen in the township since last summer, but are posting the information because the suspects have been in nearby areas.






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Jury reaches verdict in Miguel Torres murder trial

The jury has reached its verdict in the Miguel Torres murder trial, but it has not yet been announced in court.


The jury, after spending the night sequestered at a hotel in Berks County, was sent back to the deliberation room at 9:25 a.m. Tuesday.


The jurors announced less than an hour later that they had reached their verdict.


The jury got the case shortly before 1:30 p.m. Monday and deliberated until about 9 p.m.


Torres, formerly of Exeter Township, is facing a mandatory life sentence if he is convicted of first degree murder for the Sept. 12, 2005, shooting death of his estranged wife, Barbie Torres, in downtown Reading.


Torres left the country and remained at large until his capture in Italy in March 2013.


Torres, as the lone defense witness, proclaimed his innocence to the jury last Friday, testifying that a lone shark to whom he owed money is the actual killer.


York County residents were selected to serve on the jury because of the extensive pretrial publicity the case received in Berks.


WFMZ's Ryan Hughes is in the courtroom. Refresh this page for more on this developing story as we await the verdict.






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