Phoenixville Twins Had Loaded Weapons, Ballistic Vest and Pot Operation, Police Say

Twin brothers are in Chester County Prison after police say they found drugs and multiple loaded weapons in their Buchanan Street apartment during a raid.

Michael James Lance and William Lance, both 27, were each charged with multiple counts of manufacture of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, endangering the welfare of a child, and other charges related to the search.

On Sunday at 7:09 p.m., Phoenixville Police Officer Mathew Fusco and several other officers served a warrant on an apartment located on the 200 block of Buchanan Street, according to court documents.  During the search, police say they located a loaded 12-gauge shotgun and a loaded AK47 in separate bedrooms, and also found a ballistic vest—or a bulletproof vest—near the AK47.

Phoenixville Police Sgt. Glenn Eckman told The Mercury he believes he Lances were preparing for a violent showdown of some kind.

“A trauma plate is something he’s wearing because he’s preparing for some sort of run-in with another drug dealer or a run-in with law enforcement,” Eckman told the paper. “I’ve been doing this for 20 years and I’d say they were ready for a confrontation with police.”

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The presence of the weapons prompted the charges for endangering a child's welfare, according to court documents. Police say they found the loaded shotgun leaning against a wall without a trigger guard, "accessible to anyone." The weapon was in a room that also contains a bed for a small child, police say.

In addition to the weapons, police say they discovered what appeared to be a marijuana grow operation. According to court documents, officers uncovered 12 marijuana plants along with a specific lighting system rigged to enable indoor growth, multiple bags filled with a small amount of marijuana, packing material and scales, as well as various paraphernalia.

The brothers were in their bedrooms at the time of the raid, police say.

Michael Lance and William Lance were arrested, arraigned, and scheduled for a preliminary hearing on April 4.