iradiophilly | News - NY Couple Charged in Sesame Place Attack; 9 Positive at Philly Church; Drexel to Start Online

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NY Couple Charged in Sesame Place Attack; 9 Positive at Philly Church; Drexel to Start Online

by: iradioal - Philadelphia, PA
started: 08/20/20 12:33 pm | updated: 08/20/20 12:33 pm

A New York couple has been charged for the assault of a Pennsylvania amusement park employee over their non-use of a mask. U.S. Marshals arrested 39-year-old Troy McCoy around 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, 8/19, in the Bronx. McCoy attempted to barricade himself inside his residence on the 2700 block of Sampson Avenue but was taken into custody by Marshals. McCoy is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy, disorderly conduct, and harassment. 31-year-old Shakerra Bonds is expected to surrender to Middletown Township in Bucks County. She is charged with simple assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy, and harassment.

The incident happened on August 9 at Sesame Place in Langhorne. A 17-year-old park employee reminded the couple that they had to wear a mask or face covering while in the child-themed amusement park. Later in the day while the employee was working at the Captain Cookieâ€™s High Câ€™s Adventure ride, the same couple approached and attacked the boy. They punched him in the face, breaking his jaw and damaging a tooth. He was taken to St. Mary Medical Center where he remained for a week. Bonds also punched another employee who came to help. The couple then ran out of the park and fled in their car. Police were able to identify and track them down by their park reservation and transactions, vehicle registration, and park surveillance.

There is a GoFundMe campaign for the victim: https://www.gofundme.com/f/17yearold-sesame-place-survivor

Sesame Place released this statement, "We want to thank the law enforcement agencies involved for their quick actions and support. We have issued a lifetime ban to the individuals involved for all of our parks across the country. The safety of our team members and guests remains our top priority."

Philadelphia Health officials have issued a warning after a potential outbreak of coronavirus COVID-19 was identified at a church in the Tacony section. 9 members of the CityReach Philly Church at 6814 Torresdale Avenue have tested positive. The first people showed signs as early as August 6. Services at the church were suspended on August 13. The health department identified the outbreak through case investigation and contact tracing. Officials warn anyone that has attended services at the church in August to consider themselves exposed, monitor themselves for symptoms, and quarantine for two weeks.

Drexel University has announced that it will continue remote learning through the Fall 2020 semester for undergraduate students. On-campus housing will also remain closed. Some exceptions include clinical programs in the College of Nursing and Health Professions and "emergency or hardship situations (such as international students who cannot travel home)." Drexel has also decided to freeze tuition for this semester. "We had all hoped to stage our gradual return to campus, but the shifting nature of the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on other colleges and universities has necessitated a change of course for Drexel. After much consultation and a frank assessment of the situation at large universities that have brought undergraduate students back to campus, we have made the decision that undergraduate courses will continue remotely for the fall quarter, and Drexel University housing will remain closed to undergraduates during the fall term," said Drexel President John Fry in a statement.

After assessing the situation at colleges and universities that brought students back to campus, we have decided that undergraduate courses will continue remotely and Drexel University housing will remain closed to undergraduates during the fall term. https://t.co/THoXLn0rxB
— Drexel University (@DrexelUniv) August 19, 2020