Alleged Family Forger Tops Weird Crime News

Each week, Patch combs through the more shocking, surprising and often absurd alleged criminal acts and police-related incidents that unfold around the region. Here’s what went on in the last week for OMG PD.

Sorry, no takebacks: Where's the dumbest place to allegedly steal a bike? If you said "outside the police station," you're already ahead of a Clementon man who was arrested Wednesday. Pradell Hedgepath tried to make it right, police said, sending an email offering to return the bike, but was arrested after not responding to emails back to him.

Rain of fire: Well, not quite fire, but cinders and debris came down on the crowd at Collingswood's annual Fourth of July fireworks in what fire officials said was a freak turn of weather. Winds that had been blowing away from the stadium shifted mid-show, and at that point, there was nothing that could be done. "There’s no physical, safe way to remove those shells and put them back in boxes," Fire Chief Keith Davis said. "A couple years ago, a thunderstorm was coming, and we were standing there in the rain shooting fireworks off."

Fake gun, allegedly real threat: A Collingswood man involved in what police said was a heated public argument took it a step further, allegedly making threats referencing a gun tucked in his waistband. It didn't matter it was an Airsoft handgun—police still charged William C. Scargle with multiple weapons offenses and making terroristic threats.

And you thought your brother-in-law was bad: A Marlton man is probably in for some awkward family dinners in the future, after police arrested him and charged him with forgery and theftfor allegedly using a faked withdrawal slip to get cash out of a relative's bank account. It wasn't the first time for Marc DiBartolomeo, either, police said—they ended up charging him in two other, similar incidents.