Friday -- It was reported over the weekend that Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz’s office was threatened Wednesday. Northeast resident Jesse Keel, 44, called Schwartz’s office Wednesday to report a problem. When he felt the answer he received wasn’t helpful, Keel reportedly threatened the congresswoman. Though he was discharged from a hospital, Keel will now undergo a psychiatric evaluation to determine if he can stand trial. continue reading »

Phil Pappas, left, and Mike Mawson, of West Frankford Town Watch, outside the Thriftway at Frankford Avenue and Pratt Street around 2 a.m. Sat. July 10.

Mike Mawson smells something.

It’s past midnight on Comly Street near Bustleton in Mayfair. The sun went down hours ago, but forgot to take this sticky July heat with it. Mawson is riding shotgun in the sensible four-door sedan that his partner Phil Pappas drives. The West Frankford Town Watch patrol was circling around to head back south of Cheltenham Avenue to drive the streets of its namesake neighborhood when Mawson caught a whiff of something off in the still nighttime air.

“It smells like something is burning,” confirms soft-featured Pappas, 53, sitting upright with two hands on the steering wheel and dressed with purpose in matching earthtones. “I’ll pull over.”

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UPDATE: Four people were hospitalized, including a 21-year-old male, who was shot in the neck and face. He remains in critical condition at Aria Health-Torresdale, while three others were treated for non-life threatening injuries at Aria Health – Frankford.

West Frankford Town Watch President Mike Mawson called a few minutes ago with breaking news:

Six people were shot at a bar at Bridge and Darrah streets in Frankford. While the conditions of the victims remain unknown, three were transported to Aria Health, and three were taken to Aria Health-Torresdale. There’s no word yet on how the incident unfolded.

This email arrived at 4:04 this morning from West Frankford Town Watch:

“Police are on the scene of a shooting in the Frankford area. 1600 Foulkrod Street is the scene of the shooting. Police have four witnesses who all were taken to Northeast Detectives for questioning. The male was shot once in the left leg and taken to Frankford Torresdale and was listed in stable condition.”

West Frankford Town Watch has just sent the following information over:

Multiple shots fired on the 5200-block of Penn Street in Frankford. Neighbors reported hearing up to 10 shots, and police have so far recovered eight shell casings from what appears to be a 9mm handgun.

Several cars were hit, but it’s unclear if any injuries have been reported or if an arrest has been made.