A Bensalem man suspected of stealing $7,500 from a Lower Southampton laundromat is facing a long list of felony charges after he allegedly attempted to disarm a police officer attempting to take him into custody.
Lower Southampton police allegedly identified Stanley Petroski, 37, as the person responsible for the burglaries, which occurred on Sept. 17 and 19 at the Feasterville Laundromat in the 700 block of Bustleton Pike.
Video surveillance allegedly captured Petroski forcing entry into the rear room of the laundromat, then he used a metal cutting tool to break into the Bill-to-Bill Exchanger, which contained approximately $3,500, according to police.
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Before entering the laundromat, Petroski allegedly attempted to disable the camera using spray paint in an attempt to his identity, police said.
Two days later, Petroski allegedly returned to the laundromat where he, again, forced entry into the rear room and damaged a second change machine stealing about $4,000, police said.
He was again captured on surveillance video after the business owner cleaned the camera after the first break in, police said.
In the subsequent police investigation, authorities learned that Petroski was arrested in 2022 for burglarizing the same laundromat where he removed the whole change machine, police said.
Petroski was arrested Sunday after a Lower Southampton patrol officer followed up on a tip that he was seen at a drug store at Bustleton Avenue and Street Road. An officer located him nearby walking east in the 290 block of Street Road, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Initially Petroski appeared to follow orders to stop and come toward the officer, but then he allegedly attempted to flee.
After the officer grabbed him by the belt and arm, Petroski allegedly became aggressive and grabbed the officer’s service weapon and pulled it toward him.
The officer was able to get control of Petroski and take him into custody, though he continued to resist arrest, the affidavit said.
He was arraigned Sept. 20 before District Judge Michael Petrucci on two separate sets of charges including nine felonies for multiple counts of burglary and disarming a law enforcement officer and related misdemeanors.
Petroski was transferred to Bucks County prison in lieu of $300,000 bail on the burglary and related charges and $250,000 bail on the disarming of law enforcement and misdemeanor resisting arrest. He had no legal representative listed as of Sept. 21, according to the court docket.
Crime and Courts Reporter Jo Ciavaglia can be reached at jciavaglia@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bensalem man attempted to disarm cop taking him into custody: Police
