Briefly ... City/region
Some manhole covers were dislodged yesterday in Center City when something went awry with an underground PECO line.
PECO line goes boom!
Some manhole covers were dislodged yesterday in Center City when something went awry with an underground PECO line.
PECO spokesman Greg Smore said the company received a report of an apparent explosion about 3:30 a.m. at 15th and Market streets. Pressure likely built up when the underground cable went on the fritz, tripping a breaker, which then triggered popping sounds as it tried to restore power to the cable, he said.
Smore said PECO workers were trying to identify the specific cable that needs to be replaced. One customer was left without power, and a nearby traffic light had to be temporarily powered by a generator. No injuries were reported.
Police: Five johns busted
Five men were arrested in Kensington earlier this week as part of an undercover prostitution sting.
Members of the Philadelphia police Citywide Vice Enforcement Unit conducted their decoy operation near Kensington Avenue and Sergeant Street on Thursday, the Police Department announced yesterday.
The five alleged johns, all of whom were charged with patronizing prostitution and solicitation, are: Donald M. Farrell, 52; Francisco Sanchez, 70; Anthony Steele, 44; Suong Van Nguyen, 68; and John Stephen Davidson, 31. Police also confiscated $1,842 in cash.
Cops search for missing Center City woman
Philadelphia police are asking for the public's help as they search for a Center City woman who disappeared earlier this week.
Lauren Guzzi, 30, was last seen on Wednesday about 4 p.m. at her home on 6th Street near Walnut. Police said she suffers from depression and might be in need of medication.
Guzzi is 5 feet 5 inches tall, 105 pounds, with brown eyes and shoulder-length wavy brown hair. She was last spotted wearing a white shirt, green jacket, blue jeans and yellow sandals. Tipsters may contact Central Detectives at 215-686-3093 or -3094.
More trouble for Nifty Fifty's
An accountant who worked for the Nifty Fifty's milkshake-and-burgers chain has been indicted on tax-evasion charges.
According to a federal indictment unsealed yesterday, William J. Frio, 58, of Springfield Township, Delaware County, failed to properly account for more than $15.6 million of gross receipts for the restaurants, thereby evading more than $2.2 million in taxes from Jan. 1, 2006, to Aug. 23, 2010.
Last year, two co-owners and three managers of the chain, which has a location in Northeast Philly, were sentenced for their roles in the tax-evasion scheme.
Judge: No public defender for Tollefson
When former sportscaster Don Tollefson pleads his case later this month, it'll be on his dime.
Bucks County Common Pleas Judge Wallace Bateman yesterday denied Tollefson's application for a public defender, according to court records.
The onetime Fox 29 personality is fighting fraud charges and related offenses after allegedly stealing more than $100,000 through various charities he formed. He's due back in court May 29.
- David Gambacorta, Julie Shaw and Vinny Vella