Two Levittown men and a Bristol Township teen have been accused in a case involving the vandalism and destruction of Pennsylvania State Police vehicles in Philadelphia during civil unrest in spring.
In a statement, state police said Luke Manning Cossman, of Levittown; Steven Michale Anderson, of Levittown; Sammy Rivera, of Philadelphia; Francisco A. Reyes, of Philadelphia; William Joseph Besaw, of Sounderton in Montgomery County; and a teen boy from Bristol Township’s Croydon section have been accused of taking part in the incident that happened at Vine Street at Broad Street and I-676 in the city on the afternoon of May 30.
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State police said in a press release that troopers arrived to the area around 3:45 p.m. in response to peaceful protests throughout the city.
At some point, several people in the large crowd “became violent and began damaging two Pennsylvania State Police marked patrol units that were parked on Vine Street,” troopers said.
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The vehicles were damaged with a a scooter, a hammer, skateboards, bike locks, pry bars, and other items. In addition, members of the group kicked and punched the vehicles while spray painting them, state police said.
In addition to damaging the vehicles, troopers’ equipment and personal items were stolen, state police said.
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Troopers said they investigated the incidents and received arrest warrants from Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner’s office. Additionally, investigators received search warrants from the Philadelphia District Attorney‘s Office and the Bucks County District Attorney‘s Office.
The two Levittown men were taken into custody and the Croydon teen was incarcerated and the warrant will be used as a detainer.
Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.
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