PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A Bucks County man already charged with arson is now facing gun and drug charges.
Bensalem Township Public Safety Director William McVey said after a long investigation, detectives uncovered evidence that 51-year-old Charles Vandenberg was dealing drugs out of his home in Croydon.
“Officers received information that Vandenberg was distributing large quantities of methamphetamine throughout the Lower Bucks region and that he had numerous firearms stored inside his residence,” said Bensalem Township Public Safety Director William McVey.
Police seized 20 guns, ammunition, a bulletproof vest and more than a pound of meth from his residence.
At the time of his arrest, McVey said Vandenberg was out on bail on arson charges stemming from an incident in Bristol Township in August 2025. In that case, prosecutors said Vandenberg promised to give another man drugs if he set fire to a van in Croydon. The fire spread to a nearby home.
Vandenberg is a convicted felon and is prohibited from owning firearms. Following the raid, he is facing numerous drug and firearms violations.
He is being held in Bucks County Prison without bail.
Buck County District Attorney Joe Khan said his office has aggressively argued against bail in cases where they believe the defendant is a danger to others.
“Whether it’s $1 million, $3 million, $10 million, it really ought to be the case that if you are a danger to the community, you shouldn’t be able to buy your way out of trouble,” he said. “Defendants such as Mr. Vandenberg, who are too dangerous to be trusted out in our community, will not be able to make bail no matter how much money they are able to come up with.”
Police seized 20 guns and more than a pound of meth from his home
Police seized 20 guns and more than a pound of meth from his home
