Hotel Guest Allegedly Breaks Gate Over Broken Wifi

A guest who allegedly broke a baby gate at the Limerick Hampton Inn reportedly did so because he was angry that the hotel's wireless internet was not functioning.

Hampton Inn management called police the evening of February 2 to report that a guest had allegedly broken a baby gate in the laundry area of the hotel. The manager identified the guest as Minnesota resident Kenneth Grant Smart, who had stayed at the Limerick hotel in the past. 

The hotel manager told police that Smart was upset over the broken WiFi connection. The manager offered Smart an internet cable at no charge and the use of the business center, but Smart refused both, became upset and was "yelling and screaming." The manager said he offered Smart a free room for the night but Smart also turned that down and walked off. 

Smart was reportedly captured on surveillance video attempting to open a child safety gate to get to the basement laundry area. The police report states that Smart was seen on video breaking the gate and throwing it down the stairs. Smart then retrieved his clothes from the laundry area and left the hotel. 

Police reportedly tracked Smart down at another area Hampton Inn where they say he admitted to causing the damage and offered to pay for it. He was cited for criminal mischief and released. 

Burned-out headlight leads to DUI charge

A Royersford man was arrested by Limerick Township police after he was stopped for a burned-out headlight and subsequently tested at a blood alcohol level twice the legal limit.

Shawn Cochran of Royersford was stopped by Limerick police on Swamp Pike at around 2:00am on January 20. 

The police report states that an officer saw Cochran's truck on Swamp Pike with only one headlight, so police effected a traffic stop. 

When the officer asked Cochran to produce his identification, he reported, he could smell a strong odor of alcohol on Cochran's person. Cochran was asked to exit the car and complied. 

The police report stated Cochran was slurring his speech and acting lethargic. The officer asked him to take a breath alcohol content test, and Cochran reportedly blew a .178% (the legal limit in Pennsylvania is .08%). Cochran was arrested for driving under the influence and transported to the Pottstown police station. Twenty minutes later a second breath test registered .163%, according to the police report. 

Cochran will be charged via summons and was released pending a hearing. 

Retail theft at Philadelphia Premium Outlets

Limerick Township police arrested several people at the Philadelphia Premium Outlets for allegedly stealing items of clothing from stores there. 

An incident on January 29 affected the Timberland and Sock It To Me stores. A Timberland employee called police to report an alleged theft from the store and told police the suspects were a group of four men. While police were investigating, they were advised that the Sock It To Me store was also reporting a theft. 

Four men matching the description were located in the Lucky Brand Jeans store. 

Philadelphia resident Bernard Stanford Bryant Jr. allegedly took four pairs of socks from the Sock It To Me store. The socks, which were decorated with cartoon characters Donald Duck, Kermit the Frog, Snoopy and Popeye, were found in a bag in Bryant's possession.

Jevonte Pressley, also a Philadelphia resident, allegedly took a pair of black work boots from the Timberland store and put them on, and then reportedly placed the boots he was wearing back in the box and left it on the shelf. A Timberland employee identified the boots on Pressley's feet as the ones that were reportedly taken from the store.

Both men were found to have no prior retail theft charges. They were cited for misdemeanor retail theft and released.