A Telford Borough man was charged with felony criminal trespassing and misdemeanor drug offenses by Montgomery Township Police after they allege he burglarized a music studio on Bethlehem Pike Sunday morning.
Police responded to a burglar alarm at Music and Arts, 801 Bethlehem Pike, Sunday at 12:07 a.m. Upon arrival, police found a van in the rear of the business, tucked in next to a Dumpster, which was registered to Samuel Joseph Gomes, 40, of the unit block of Ryan Court, per the affidavit.
Police found the rear door open, according to the complaint, and entered with a K-9 officer.
Police gave two announcements at the entrance for anyone inside to surrender as they were under arrest, and nobody responded, police said.
Upon entering the art studio, police found Gomes, who was hiding behind a curtain in the rear of the business, police said. Gomes was told multiple times to come out, before he eventually surrendered, police said.
Gomes told police he heard their warnings, but he hid away, per the complaint. Police said it appeared he had a guitar case and other items inside his car, that may have been stolen, and Gomes consented to a search.
In the end, nothing was stolen, police said, but narcotics paraphernalia was found. After the vehicle search, police found more paraphernalia and cocaine outside the front of the car, near the Dumpster, police said. Gomes, police allege, admitted to dropping the cocaine there.
Gomes remains at Montgomery County jail in lieu of 10% of $5,000 cash, posted at arraignment by Magisterial District Judge Marc A. Alfarano, per court documents.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 17 at 11:45 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy.
