Man stole car from Philly, drove to stranger's house to use bathroom, police say

A Massachusetts man has been charged with two felony counts of receiving stolen property and felony theft by unlawful taking for driving a stolen car, with a gun inside, that he parked outside a stranger’s house, where he used the bathroom and refused to leave.

Rochel M. Pamphile, 37, of the 50^th block of Connolly Road, Avon, MA, was also charged Monday by Lower Providence Township Police with misdemeanor unauthorized use of a car and misdemeanor marijuana possession charges, according to charging documents.

On Dec. 1, at 12:07 p.m., police responded to a home on the 8000 block of Woodgate Circle for a disturbance involving an elderly woman allowing a stranger to come into her house and use the bathroom, police said. The stranger refused to leave the home, police said.

Minutes later, dispatch advised the suspect left the home, and police found the suspect, identified as Pamphile, a few houses down, police said.

Pamphile told police he was homeless and did not know the address of the Philadelphia shelter where he stays, per the affidavit. He allegedly told authorities he drove up from Philadelphia to visit a friend named Brian and confirmed it was the house with a silver 2017 Chevrolet Malibu parked out front.

Police said a search of the vehicle’s registration flagged it stolen out of Philadelphia. Pamphile allegedly told police the owner let him borrow the car, but he could not remember his name.

A search of the car found a gun that belonged to, and was returned to, the vehicle’s owner, police said. Several packages of marijuana and mail addressed to Pamphile were also found in the car, police said.

The owner of the stolen car came to Lower Providence Police headquarters, where he provided a written statement that he did not give permission for Pamphile to take his car, according to the complaint.

Pamphile was jailed at Montgomery County Correctional Facility on 10% of $25,000 cash bail, according to court documents. A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 17 at 10:15 a.m. before Magisterial District Judge Michael P. Quinn.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.