10 Charged In Connection With Violent Night That Left 2 Stabbed

Several arrests have been made in connection with a crazy night out that ended with multiple assaults, a robbery and two people stabbed, according to police.

Bristol Township police on Monday announced they had arrested eight people and issued arrest warrants for two more people in connection with the early morning madness that happened on Saturday, August 14 at the Stadium Bar and Grill on Woerner Avenue in Levittown.

Police officials said since the beginning of the investigation that getting information from witnesses was difficult due to the amount of people and varying levels of intoxication. Police said Monday that Detective Timothy Fuhrmann and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office oversaw a grand jury investigation into the incidents.

According to court papers, two witnesses said they saw a group of men assault Falls Township volunteer firefighter Steven Basalyga while he was enjoying a night at the bar. The witnesses told authorities Samuel Padilla Jr., 25, of Bristol Township, and Michael Gonzalez, 22, of Bristol Borough, left the bar at 1:50 a.m. and walked toward Onorio Velez, 20, of Bristol Township. At that point, Padilla reportedly walked up behind Basalyga and punched him in the back of the head, causing his body to “lurch forward.”

While Basalyga was in motion following the punch to the back of the head, Gonzalex punched him in the nose and Velez lunged his right hand toward the firefighter and made a “stabbing motion,” police alleged.

“Immediately after defendant Valez jabbed at Basalyga, Basalyga crumpled to the ground,” Fuhrmann wrote in court papers. The detective further wrote that the then 21-year-old suffered a “large bleeding wound” to the chest.

Firefighters from Levittown Fire Company No. 2 and medics from the Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad tended to Basalyga, who suffered life-threatening injuries but survived, police said.

Around the same time, a second incident happened, police said.

Nicholas Sylvia and two other people exited the bar and were approached by several men. One of the men “got in his face” and he shoved the man away. After shoving the man, another man confronted Sylvia, police said. Court documents state a third unknown person punched him twice in the face.

Sylvia and the two people – identified as Kelan Caccavella and Jordyn Miller – began to walk to cars parked at the nearby Acme. As the car Sylvia was in began to pull away, a group of people began running toward the two cars, police said.

Miller got out of her vehicle to try to calm the crowd; Sylvia got out and yelled for Miller to get back in her vehicle. At that time, eight to 10 men began attacking Sylvia about the head and body, according to court papers. Sylvia was pulled into the vehicle with the assistance of Caccavella.

“The crowd, which had grown larger, was now climbing on the car and smashing the front windshield. Caccavella’s door was opened and he too was punched and struck with unknown objects reportedly about the head and body. One individual took Caccaavella’s wallet from his pocket,” court papers say.

The attack in the parking lot allegedly involved Steven Evens, 21, of Bristol Township; Anthony Verderame, 21, of Bristol Township; Shaquille Legette, 21, of Bristol Borough, Phillip Budion, 24, of Bristol Township’s Croydon section; William Ellershaw, 24, of Bristol Township; Carlos Baltazar, 26, of Bristol Township’s Croydon section; and Bryandyn Smith, 25, of Bristol Township. Velez was also involved in the second incident, police said.

While pulling away from the mob, Caccavella struck a bystander, police said. In August, police said the bystander suffered minor injuries.

Caccavella was bleeding heavily and pulled in  a parking lot in the 6900 block of  New Falls Road.

Medical personnel determined Caccavella suffered four stab wounds to the back. Sylvia was treated for bruising , cuts and swelling of the face, authorities said.

In the hours after the night of assaults, a LevittownNow.com reporter observed broken glass and trash strewn around the bar and Acme parking lots.

The eight suspects arrested Monday were taken in as part of a sweep conducted by detectives. Evens and Verderame have warrants out for their arrest, court records showed Monday evening.

The charges filed against the men vary. Velez faces the most serious charges including attempted criminal homicide. His co-defendents are charged with aggregated assault, robbery and additional offenses. Bail for the suspects ranged for 10 percent of $500,000 for Velez and Baltazar to 10 percent of $50,000 for Smith.

All the men arrested Monday were arraigned before District Judge Joanne Kline.

The incident call in 2014 drew police from Middletown, the Pennsylvania State Police and Tullytown to assist Bristol Township officers.