Randall Avenue Bridge reopening delayed by PECO work – Bucks Round-Up – September 23, 2025
Randall Avenue Bridge reopening delayed by PECO work
The long-awaited reopening of Bristol Township’s Randall Avenue Bridge is being pushed into 2026. Originally slated to reopen by the end of this year, Township Engineer Kurt Schroeder told council members that PECO’s ongoing gas line replacement is causing delays. “This work is completely independent of the bridge repairs,” Schroeder said, noting that the bridge itself is nearly ready. The bridge, closed since February 23, 2023, after falling concrete posed a danger to Amtrak tracks below, has seen significant progress. Abutments have been completed, and damaged concrete has been replaced. Once PECO finishes its work, PennDOT inspectors will evaluate the bridge to ensure it meets safety standards before reopening. Residents remain frustrated with the prolonged closure, though state and federal aid has supported the extensive repairs.
DA: Bensalem officer justified in August shooting
Bucks County District Attorney Jennifer Schorn announced that a Bensalem Township police officer was justified in using deadly force during an August 2 road rage incident. The decision followed a review by county detectives of witness statements, police radio transmissions, body-worn camera recordings, and surveillance video. Investigators concluded the officer acted reasonably when he fired on 44-year-old John Thomas Mathis of Levittown, who pointed a handgun at a motorist and later at the officer. The confrontation began just before 6 p.m. on Bristol Pike when a driver reported to 911 that Mathis had aimed a gun at his face and threatened to rob him. Responding to the call, the officer positioned his patrol car to shield the victim. Witnesses said the officer issued commands before Mathis fled from his motorcycle, still holding his weapon in a reverse grip aimed at police. The officer fired three times, striking Mathis. Officers rendered aid at the scene and recovered a black handgun. Mathis survived and now faces multiple charges tied to the incident, as well as an armed robbery at a Philadelphia cellphone store committed about an hour earlier. At the time of the shooting, Mathis was already facing charges from a July 27 Road rage case in Bristol Township and had outstanding warrants in other court matters. He is currently being held at Bucks County Correctional Facility, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for next month. Deputy District Attorney Megan Hunsicker will prosecute the case. District Attorney Schorn emphasized that the officer’s actions were consistent both with Bensalem Township Police policy and with countywide use-of-force guidelines adopted by all local departments. She underscored that her office conducts a thorough review in every officer-involved shooting. While the officer’s identity has not been released, Schorn said the evidence showed his decision was necessary to protect his own life, the threatened motorist, and others nearby.
Fugitive returned to Bucks to face historic animal cruelty case
A woman accused in the largest farm animal cruelty case in Bucks County history is back in the United States to face charges after months on the run in Belize. Members of the U.S. Marshals Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force transported Abigail Tuttle O’Keeffe from Belize to Philadelphia late Friday, turning her over to Newtown Township Police around 10:30 p.m. O’Keeffe was first charged in January with more than 100 counts of animal cruelty after investigators discovered widespread neglect and suffering among farm animals in her care. The Bucks County SPCA called the case unprecedented in its scale and severity. Shortly after charges were filed, O’Keeffe fled the country. Her arrest came months later in Benque Viejo, Belize, where local authorities charged her with firearm possession on April 25. After that case was resolved on September 18, she was released into the custody of U.S. Marshals for deportation. The coordinated effort to return O’Keeffe involved multiple agencies, including the U.S. Department of State, INTERPOL, Bucks County District Attorney’s Office, Bucks County Sheriff’s Office, and law enforcement in Belize. Nikki Thompson, Chief Humane Society Police Officer with the Bucks County SPCA, emphasized the extraordinary scope of the case. “This was an exceptional case in terms of the number of animals, severity of their suffering, and the interagency cooperation required to bring Ms. O’Keeffe back to the United States to face charges and gain justice for the animals,” she said. The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force, which coordinated O’Keeffe’s return, is made up of local, state, and federal partners working to apprehend fugitives across the region.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490.
