Crime & Safety

Police: Phoenixville Woman Fired Weapon in Self Defense

A woman was arrested Monday for firing a handgun on a Royersford street.

Jolene Swenda, 50, of Phoenixville, was acting in self defense when she fired her revolver on the street in Royersford Monday.

According to police, the woman was defending herself and her dog from a loose pit bull. No charges will be filed against Swenda.

The incident occurred shortly after 7 p.m. on Monday. Royersford police received reports of a woman firing a weapon on a borough street and multiple police departments headed to the scene.

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They found Swenda inside a home in the 300 block of North Fifth Avenue, where she was detained pending further investigation.

When she was taken in for questioning, police found a silver .38-caliber revolver with three spent casings in Swenda’s possession.

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Witnesses and Swenda told police during the investigation that as Swenda was walking her small dog in the 500 block of Chestnut Street, a 75-pound pit bull worked its way loose from a nearby fenced-in yard.

“Swenda felt that her life and her dog’s life were in danger so she discharged her [.38-caliber] revolver three times to scare the pit bull away,” according to police.

Police said that as Swenda feared for her life and her dog’s life and as Swenda does have a valid firearms permit in Chester County, no charges will be filed. 


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