The white and brown-shingled house at 9280 East Tyburn Road in Falls Township sits in front on a tow shop and looks relatively normal. However, what police say they found on the inside was not routine by any means.
Chemicals used to produce methamphetamines, “homemade” explosives and a 9mm semiautomatic handgun were among the items found inside the house, which was shared by two men – Donald Barger, 61, and a roommate, who has not been charged with any crime.
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Police were tipped off to the home while investigating a rash of thefts from cars that LevittownNow.com first reported on two weeks ago. As part of the investigation, Edward Moon, 44, and Christoper Williams, 35, were arrested. Both men were known to have frequented 9280 East Tyburn Road and, according to police, an iPad stolen in the theft from vehicle spree was recovered at the property.
Police received their lead last Thursday and began surveillance on the house. Barger was questioned Friday night by investigations as he went outside to walk his dog, according to court documents and police officials.
Detective Catherine Coffman obtained search warrants to probe Williams’ residence and Barger’s home.
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
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Inside the home, police said they found a Taurus 9mm handgun loaded with a 15 round magazine on a nightstand in his bedroom. A check of court records revealed Barger had previous felony convictions barring him from owning firearms.
Investigators also “made observations and received corroborative information from a confidential informant which supported their belief that the resident, Donald Barger, may be in possession of precursor chemicals to produce methamphetamine,” a press release said.
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Furthermore, law enforcement observations and information from an informant led authorities to believe some of the chemicals were “volatile and exposed which necessitated them contacting the Pennsylvania State Police East Regional Clandestine Laboratory Team. Lastly, while executing the warrant they observed what appeared to homemade explosives,” police said. The Philadelphia Police Department Bomb Disposal Unit came out and handled the explosives.
Police were able to locate Barger a short time later at a trailer in the 7600 block of Hunter Drive in the Morrisville section of the township.
When police arrived at the trailer, they opened an unlocked door and made their presence known. Ferrs greeted them, according to court documents, and said Barger was sleeping in a rear bedroom, where he was arrested.
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Ferrs was arrested after a bolt action rifle with a laser scope in a bedroom was discovered, police said. Court documents state that a box of shotgun ammunition was found on a table in the living room. Court records revealed to authorities that Ferrs was barred from owning firearms due to a previous conviction.
Barger was interviewed by police and admitted he did methamphetamines prior to his arrest, according to a press release. He also told investigators there was a “line of meth” in his bedroom, in addition to admitting to have illegal methamphetamine precursor chemicals in his house, police said. He added he was missing some necessary ingredients, but that he used to make methamphetamines in the house.
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As for the illegal handgun, Barger said he was meaning to “get rid of it after someone left it there,” police said.
Williams was arrested last week and found to have several items reported stolen during the vehicle theft spree. He reportedly scuffled with an officer as he was collared. Moon was taken into custody in early September after officers found him with property stolen from vehicles in the township, according to court papers.
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By 9 p.m. Tuesday night, court records do not show additional charges connected to the drug operation against any of the four men already in county lockup unable to post bail.
Police ask anyone with any information on the ongoing investigation call Detective Catherine Coffman at 215-949-9100.
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