Robbery, Heroin Charges Against Lansdale Man Held for Court

A Lansdale man arrested twice in 12 days for alleged criminal offenses in Lansdale Borough waived his preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon, sending all six charges  — including felony robbery — to county arraignment.

Ronald Anthony Heitz, 20, of the 800 block of Wedgewood Drive, , and of $275 from a friend on West Third Street the day prior.

Heitz told Lansdale Detective Steve Owens at the District Court of Judge Harold Borek on Tuesday that he is looking for a job and "staying out of trouble."

Heitz is charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor posession with intent to distribute and disorderly conduct in the July 5 incident, according to court documents.

He is charged with felony third-degree robbery, misdemeanor theft and misdemeanor receiving stolen property in the July 16 incident, according to court documents.

On July 5, at 11:21 a.m., Lansdale Police Officer Tim Cornelius was on bike patrol in the area of Fifth Street Park. He saw two subjects, identified as Heitz and Taylor Berthot, sitting in the park, according to the affidavit.

As Cornelius rode past, he saw a clear bag on the ground between Heitz and Berthot, police said. Berthot allegedly moved her left leg to conceal the bag, police said.

Cornelius approached the duo and picked up the bag, which had suspected marijuana in it, police said. Both subjects had slurred speech and bloodshot, "glazed over" eyes, police said.

Heitz allegedly resisted arrest while being placed into custody, police said.

"(Heitz) said we were not going to search his backpack," the affidavit states.

After an alleged brief struggle, Heitz was taken into custody, police said.

A search of the backpack uncovered five one-square-inch plastic bags with wax paper wrapped around a white powder; the bags were stamped "Crazy Horse," according to the affidavit.

A laboratory test confirmed the bags to contained heroin, according to the affidavit.

Lansdale Police allege Heitz was the culprit in a strong arm robbery on July 16 on the 700 block of West Third Street, where $275 in cash was taken from Brandon Williams, 25, according to an affidavit.

Police responded to that block for the strong arm robbery call at around 7:30 p.m.

The affidavit states that Williams was "visibly agitated" and told police that Heitz took $275 out of his hand and ran off.

The victim told police Heitz called him and told him he wanted to talk. Williams came out of his house, met with Heitz, and the two began walking and talking, police said.

Police said Heitz and Williams were walking on West Third Street, when Williams' got a call on his cell phone.

Williams pulled everything out of his pocket to get the phone, including $275, police said.

Police said Heitz allegedly saw the money, grabbed it out of Williams' hand and ran off.

Williams chased Heitz, but lost him around the Thunderbird Apartments at West Third Street and Mitchell Avenue, police said. 

Heitz allegedly fled in a red Jeep Cherokee toward Valley Forge Road, 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. 

Borek previously continued Heitz's preliminary hearing for 60 days in August.

Heitz's brother, Tyrone Heitz, was recently in district court for a preliminary hearing. He is accused of arson in an incident at Berk Wiper Converting in Lansdale in April.

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