Crime & Safety

Detectives: Man Readied Shotgun During Drug Investigation

A Phoenixville man faces drug charges after a narcotics investigation.

Detectives watched as a drug deal nearly happened before their eyes and then allegedly had a shotgun pulled on them by a Phoenixville man during a narcotics investigation in the borough.

Charges were filed in district court against Kyle Anthony Trotta, 21, after an alleged incident in the 200 block of Walnut Street in late August. Trotta is free on $75,000 unsecured bail after detectives filed charges last week for felony possession with intent to deliver and a misdemeanor charge of possession of a controlled substance.

According to a criminal complaint, two Chester County detectives showed up at a home in the 200 block of Walnut Street to locate a person of interest in a narcotics investigation on Aug. 26. At the home, they saw a man, later identified as Trotta, sitting on a couch just inside a storm door.

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A detective approached the home and inquired about a person who reportedly lived there. Trotta allegedly told police that the person they were seeking no longer lived at the residence.

The pair of detectives met back on the street approximately 15 feet from the home. While they were talking, another male showed up and went up to the home after being dropped off by a female driver. The male began talking to Trotta, according to the criminal complaint.

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While speaking to Trotta, the man had an “unknown amount of United States currency clenched in his right hand,” and repeatedly told Trotta that “he just ‘needed one,’” according to court documents.

“Trotta stuck his head out the door and looked at [the detectives], who were now about fifteen feet away. Trotta retreated inside,” the affidavit states.

Recognizing a potential drug deal, one of the detectives walked back to the residence and stood behind the male, who was still outside as the female driver circled the block. The male was becoming frustrated because Trotta would not respond to his request, according to detectives.

On a third trip around the block, the female told the male to get in the car and they left, according to the criminal complaint. The detective closest to the home began talking to Trotta again, and returned to the second detective, who was about 20 feet away from the home. At that time, Trotta was allegedly holding a shotgun and was just inside the front door.

The second detective took a cover position while the first again approached the home, where Trotta remained, allegedly holding a black shotgun in the “ready position,” with his left hand on the pump action and his right on the pistol grip. When the detective asked Trotta if the gun was real, he responded, using an expletive to confirm that it was.

“Trotta then began to raise the shotgun and point the barrel toward [the detective],” the affidavit states. “At that time, [the detective] drew his service weapon and displayed his badge and stated, ‘Police, drop the gun!’ Trotta appeared to be startled and froze.”

The detective was able to step through the storm door and grab the shotgun. The second detective joined him in the residence. Five live rounds were immediately removed from the shotgun and the safety had been off when Trotta was holding the gun, according to the affidavit. The shotgun and ammunition were seized as evidence.

Trotta was searched and detectives allegedly found $1,485 in cash, which was also taken as evidence. A detective told Trotta he was not under arrest and wasn’t obliged to speak to law enforcement. According to detectives, Trotta said he wanted to cooperate with detectives, and he told them he had a rifle in his bedroom.

“Trotta stated that he was recently a victim of a robbery/home invasion,” court documents state. “Trotta stated that he had money and drugs stolen from him.”

According to detectives, Trotta also said he had “some weed,” and police followed Trotta to the bedroom, where they retrieved the rifle and where Trotta allegedly picked up a plastic bag on the floor and handed it to one of the detectives. The bag contained two other bags.

“One bag contained 17 plastic bags of marijuana. The second bag contained 19 plastic bags of marijuana,” the criminal complaint states.

Detectives field-tested the substance, which tested positive for the presence of marijuana. 

"Trotta was advised that based on his immediate cooperation, he would not be arrested this date," the criminal complaint states. "However, he would be charged in the future with possession of and possession with the intent to deliver marijuana. Trotta stated he understood." 

Trotta was arraigned last week and faces a preliminary hearing in Phoenixville’s district court on Feb. 9. 


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