Credit: Google Maps
Middletown officials cleared a slowly-growing homeless encampment near the corner of New Falls and Bristol-Oxford Valley roads in Levittown Friday afternoon.
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The encampment that was cleared was located behind the Levittown News and Tobacco II shop and next to a PECO substation.
The tents and various other tarp structures sprung up several weeks ago and had slowly grown in size. The encampment was the subject of complains by area residents.
Middletown Chief Of Police Joseph Bartorilla said he spoke with the man who lived at the camp a few days ago and has assistance in place if the man decides takes advantage of it. Township officials have coordinated with homeless volunteers and human services agencies to make them aware of the man and to offer him help.
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Despite concerns from community members who called LevittownNow.com, the homeless man was not arrested and is not in trouble, the chief said.
The belongings of the homeless man, known to locals as Mike, were removed in Middletown Public Works Department trucks and will be stored for the man to go through. Bartorilla said the only items thrown away were pieces of rotted food and dead mice that were located in some of the man’s belongings.
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During a recent inspection of the area, Bartorilla observed dirty toilet paper near the banks of the nearby Queen Anne Creek and rotted food was discovered at the encampment. The encampment was also located on private property, the chief said.
“It really was starting to become a health risk there.”
