Parents Assaulted Cop In Front Of Kids At Exton Mall: Police

West Chester PA

04 October, 2021

1:06 PM

Description

EXTON, PA — Parents of two young children are charged after an incident at the Exton Square Mall in which police reported the pair was intoxicated and assaulted a law enforcement officer in front of their two children. West Whiteland Township Police reported charges against the pair stem from the incident that happened on Saturday around 3:30 p.m. in Exton. According to Chester County Court records, Joseph G. Ritter, 37, of Downingtown, is charged with one felony; endangering the welfare of children, and also with resisting arrest, terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness. Mercedes Ritter, 29, of Downingtown, is charged with two felonies; aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of children, and also with terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness, according to court records. West Whiteland Township Police Det. Scott Pezick reported the pair were belligerent, yelling at the officers, and knocked a body camera off an officer's uniform in the incident at Exton Square Mall, as their two children looked on, according to another news source. Court records show bail for both was set at $10,000 and was posted. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Nov. 18 in Chester County Court. Make sure you know what's happening in your town. Sign up to get Patch emails and don't miss any local news: https://patch.com/subscribe.