Delaware Man Arrested After Lewd Act; Suspected in Shooting Spree

A Delaware County man is facing serious charges after an officer allegedly caught him engaging in a sexual act inside a parked vehicle, and authorities believe he may also be tied to a string of shootings that occurred earlier the same day.

Police Find Loaded Revolver During Early Morning Arrest

Ryan Campbell, 44, of Brookhaven, was taken into custody in Ridley Township around 4 a.m. Saturday. According to police, an officer patrolling near the Wawa at MacDade Boulevard and Route 420 noticed a vehicle parked in an unusual manner.

44-year-old Ryan Campbell was arrested early Saturday, Aug. 2 in Ridley Township. Photo credit Ridley Township Police.

“When the officer approached, he saw the driver leaning back, masturbating, and also spotted a revolver on the passenger seat,” said Ridley Township Police Lieutenant John Hamill.

Gun and Ammunition Found in Vehicle

Investigators say the weapon — a silver .22-caliber handgun — was loaded with live rounds. Spent shell casings were also discovered alongside the gun. Campbell was immediately arrested for open lewdness, and the firearm and vehicle were seized.

The officer then contacted Tinicum Township police after recalling an earlier incident involving shots fired at a home and several vehicles. That shooting occurred in a neighborhood off 2nd Street in Tinicum Township in the early morning hours.

Residents Shocked by Damage

Local resident Paul Cebek said his son discovered a bullet hole in his fiancée’s car after the incident. “It’s scary, especially with little kids around. What if this happened during the day?” Cebek said. He added that police had to dismantle the car door to recover the bullet.

That same morning, multiple cars in the parking lot of Springfield Mall on Baltimore Pike were also damaged by gunfire, authorities reported.

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Suspect Held on $1 Million Bail

Police are now conducting ballistic testing to determine whether the recovered firearm matches evidence from the shootings. Authorities say Campbell has a prior conviction, making it illegal for him to possess a gun.

He is currently being held at the county jail on $1 million bail as the investigation continues.