Lansdale Man Facing Heroin Possesion Charges Arrested for Robbery
Ronald Heitz, of Wedgewood Drive, allegedly robbed a friend of $275 cash Monday night and fled the scene. He was arrested on a warrant Tuesday when he came to Lansdale Police to discuss a prior arrest
Photos
A Lansdale man facing charges of heroin possession stemming from a July 5 arrest at Fifth Street Park has been arrested Tuesday for felony strong arm robbery in the borough.
Ronald Heitz, 20, of the 800 block of Wedgewood Drive, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Harold Borek on third-degree felony robbery, misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking and misdemeanor receiving stolen property, police said.
Bail was set at $10,000 cash, police said. Heitz was unable to post bail and remains incarcerated at Montgomery County prison.
A preliminary hearing is set for August 9 at 12:30 p.m. on the robbery offense.
Heitz has a preliminary hearing set on the same date at 12:45 p.m. on the heroin possession charges.
On July 16 at 7:25 p.m., Lansdale Police responded to the area of North Mitchell Avenue and West Fifth Street for a report of a strong arm robbery, police said.
Police met with the victim, a 25-year-old man from the 700 block of West Third Street, who told police that he was robbed by Heitz, police said.
The victim told police Heitz called him and told him he wanted to talk. The victim came out of his house, met with Heitz and the two began walking and talking, police said.
While walking with Heitz, the victim pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. In doing so, $275 in cash also came out of his pocket, police said.
At that point, Heitz allegedly grabbed the money out of the victim's hand and started running, police said.
The victim chased Heitz, but lost him around the Thunderbird Apartments at West Third Street and Mitchell Avenue, police said.
A friend of the victim reportedly saw Heitz enter a maroon or red Jeep Cherokee and flee the scene, police said. A Be On the Lookout, or BOLO, was released to area police departments, police said.
Police said Heitz called Lansdale Police Department around 10:10 p.m., stating in a message that he heard police were looking for him. An officer attempted to reach Heitz by phone, but was unable to contact him.
On the morning of Tuesday, July 17, Lansdale Detective Steve Owens spoke with Heitz on the phone and asked him to come to the station, police said. Heitz refused to come to the station, police said, and wanted to talk about the July 5 arrest at Fifth Street Park over the phone.
A criminal complaint was filed against Heitz and a warrant was obtained Tuesday, police said.
On Tuesday afternoon, Heitz came in person to the Lansdale Police Department wanting to talk about the Fifth Street Park arrest on July 5, police said.
Unbeknownst to Heitz, police were waiting to serve the new warrant on him, police said.
ilovelansdale
8:02 pm on Tuesday, July 17, 2012
"While walking with Heitz, the victim pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. In doing so, $275 in cash also came out of his pocket, police said."
so the "victim" is walking around with 275 bucks in his front pocket.... walking next to his friend... drops the money on the ground... and Heitz runs away with it...
hmmm sounds like the "victim" might not be telling the whole truth here...
nessa
4:21 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
The victim sells DRUG'S! He was or is heitzs Supplier!
Kristen Mahon
10:36 am on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
I'm pretty sure i saw this on an episode of Cops once....person trying to get drugs gets ripped off by drug dealer...and then calls the cops to complain and report the incident!
ilovelansdale
3:22 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
i think the lansdale police need to watch this episode of cops http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JkwZUk3Kng&feature=related
and then take another look at the "victim"
Kristen Mahon
3:37 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Thank you for posting that! Perfect. They both should be investigated and the word "victim" should be taken out of the article once a conclusion is made. Its just hard to believe that this "victim" is an innocent person who just so happened to agree to meet up with the local heroin dealer to "talk." I guess I am being close-minded in this matter but the whole thing seems shady!
ilovelansdale
7:04 pm on Wednesday, July 18, 2012
haha right? I have never walked around with that much money in my front pocket. lets say you are at a bar you pay for a drink with a 20 and instead of putting the money in your wallet you put it in your front pocket. When you pull your cell phone from your front pocket does all your money fall out? Not saying it couldn't happen but it has never happened to me. Now are we to believe that the victim pulled out his phone and all $275 hits the ground? and I am willing to bet it was not 2 hundred dollars bills, a fifty dollar bill , a twenty dollar bill and a five dollar bill hitting the ground. hahah come on!
Steve Owenz
6:32 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Stop accusing the victim of selling drugs. Ever think that his land lord was on his way over to collect the rest of the rent money? No of course not because you all are too caught up in that fake reality show "cops." I mean after all he felt safe enough to call the police . So before saying anything, take a step back and REALLY take a look at the situation. Aldo itd be nice if you all could mind your own buisness.
Kristen Mahon
9:24 am on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Kind of hard to mind your own business on a public forum. Just saying. In fact, I hope you are right Steve. I"m tired of the rapid increase of drugs and drug users around here! If they do get in trouble, let's all hope they get the help that they need.
ilovelansdale
2:36 pm on Thursday, July 19, 2012
Steve Owenz I wasn't there so i can't say for sure what happened. But I can tell you that I've talked to people who know the victim and Heitz. They say it is what is sounded like to me
Tony Di Domizio
12:46 pm on Friday, July 20, 2012
FYI - The Steve Owenz posting in this comment stream IS NOT Detective Steven Owens from Lansdale Police.
Steve Owenz
3:40 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Thanks Tony. I am not the Steve Owens from the Lansdale Police Department and I was not trying to impersonate him in anyway! I'm sorry if that's what anyone thought. I am Steven Owenz, a friend of a friend who happens to know the victim in this case.
Thanks
Mr.
12:10 am on Wednesday, September 12, 2012
You people are stupid. I domt sell drugs and carry that type of cash on me all the time.