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Sumneytown Woman Jailed on Multiple Charges after Drug Deal, Assault

Written by Kelly Chandler, Staff Writer
2013-03-27

A 27-year-old woman was arrested after she reportedly assaulted a man with a gun in a robbery attempt March 16 in East Greenville after attempting to sell him alleged narcotics.

Upper Perk Police said the crime occurred as the woman’s young child sat in the backseat of the family’s vehicle.

The woman’s husband, identified as Steven Ewing, took part in a separate drug deal with his wife about 24 hours before the assault, authorities said. Ewing was also arrested on multiple charges Saturday, including possession with the intent to deliver, dealing in the proceeds of unlawful activities, carrying a firearm without a license and terroristic threats.

According to court documents, Erica Donovan, of the 3000 block of Main Street, Sumneytown, sold an East Greenville man Xanax pills on March 15 at a location in the 400 block of W. 3rd Street in East Greenville.

During the exchange, Ewing reportedly displayed a semi-automatic handgun and threatened the man, warning him he better not have “shorted” the couple money. He allegedly told the man he had “shot people for less.”

Police said several hours after that transaction, Donovan initiated a text message conversation with the same man, asking if he wanted to buy any more pills. Donovan reportedly offered the man more Xanax and the two agreed to meet March 16 at the same location as the day before to complete the deal.

Court papers went on to say Donovan arrived at the location in a white 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee with a small child in the back seat and a large pit bull in the front passenger seat. The man also saw a large hunting-style knife with a serrated blade on the dashboard and a polished revolver on Donovan’s lap, police said.

Donovan allegedly gave the man a prescription bottle containing the alleged Xanax in exchange for cash. Immediately after the transaction, however, police said Donovan knocked the bottle out of the man’s hand with the gun.

She hit the man in the face with the firearm, according to court documents, and then pointed the gun at his chest and head.

Police said she screamed at the man, telling him not to move or she’d kill him. The man reportedly picked up the prescription bottle and ran. Donovan reportedly fled the scene in the vehicle at a high rate of speed.

According to authorities, Donovan attempted to rob the man. The prescription bottle, which had been tampered with in an attempt to black out information identifying it as Donovan’s, actually contained Unisom tablets, an over-the-counter sleep aid.

Police were later able to identify Donovan’s name and the original prescribed medication, including the area pharmacy it was issued from, from the bottle.

A press release issued by Upper Perk Police said a search warrant was executed at Donovan and Ewing’s home around 6 a.m. March 23 by the North Penn Tactical Response Team (NPTRT). Authorities reportedly recovered Unisom pills, drug paraphernalia, five hunting style rifles, and other evidence that linked the suspects to the crime.

Police also found the gun matching the victim’s description at the home and determined it was a polished semi-automatic BB gun.

Donovan was charged with three felony counts of robbery, aggravated assault, possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance, possession with intent to distribute a non-controlled substance, simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, recklessly endangering another person, unlawful restraint, criminal use of a communication facility, mutilation/obliteration of a prescription label, attempted theft, possession of a firearm and related offenses.

Donovan and Ewing were arraigned March 23 by District Judge Henry J. Schireson. Donovan’s bail was set at $10,000 cash. She was remanded to the Montgomery County Correctional Facility after being unable to post bail.

Ewing’s bail was set at $10,000 unsecured. He was later released from custody.

Both are scheduled to appear in Red Hill District Court for a preliminary hearing in front of Judge Catherine Hummel-Fried April 1 at 10:30 a.m.

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