Two men were arrested after police said they were damaging and stealing parts from a drilling rig in Middletown Township.
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Dennis James Disantis, 27, of Levittown, and Shawn P. Gavaghan, 38, of Trevose, were charged with conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, conspiracy to receive stolen property, conspiracy to commit theft, receiving stolen property, theft, defiant trespassing, criminal trespassing, criminal mischief, and related offenses.
On Sunday just before 7 a.m., an employee of Allied Well Drilling called 9-1-1 to report trespassers at a property where the company had equipment in the 2000 block of West Lincoln Highway in Middletown Township’s Langhorne section, which sits near the Neshaminy Creek and by the Route 1 Penndel interchange. The employee reported a live trail camera facing the equipment picked up the trespassers, according to court papers.
Middletown Township officers responded as it became clear the suspects were damaging and stealing parts from the drilling rig, police said.
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Three officers arrived first to find the suspects on the property at the drilling rig, police said.
Gavaghan was taken into custody at the scene, police said.
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Disantis fled to a pickup truck and drove it toward the Neshaminy Creek. The vehicle crossed the creek, but it became disabled across the creek on a steep hill on the Bensalem Township side, police said.
After the pickup truck wouldn’t climb the steep hill, Disantis fled on foot and went toward a Bensalem Township apartment complex, police said.
Middletown Township officers ended up arresting Disantis in the complex, police said.
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The drilling company confirmed there was damage to the rig, causing it to be a total loss. The rig was valued at more than $300,000, authorities said.
The drilling company employee who arrived at the scene said there was damage to the machine’s parts and more than $2,750 worth of equipment was taken from the site, police said.
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On Saturday, the same pickup truck driven by Disantis was spotted near the rig before leaving, police said.
Disantis reportedly told police the duo were taking parts from the drilling rig and were under the impression they were allowed to do so.
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Gavaghan used a metal grinder to remove parts from the machine, police said.
The owner of the land said Gavaghan and Disantis had no authorization to be on their property, police said.
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The duo were preliminarily arraigned Sunday afternoon before on-call District Judge Michael Gallagher and held on 10 percent of $100,000 bail.
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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