MONROE UNFILTERED: THE DAILY BUZZ | Oct. 5
Kidnapping for Ransom, Thomas Street Fire, $90M Vote
Monday, October 5, 2026
THE WEEK'S WEATHER
Fall Gets Serious. Today comes in sunny and crisp, with a high near 65°F and just a 12% chance of rain. Tuesday is the cool one: a high near 61°F, and the National Weather Service is flagging patchy frost late Tuesday night into early Wednesday as temperatures drop to around 40°F. If you still have tomatoes or potted plants outside, Tuesday evening is the night to cover them or bring them in.
Then It Warms Right Back Up. Wednesday climbs to 69°F, and Thursday is the warmest day of the week at 73°F. Friday through Sunday stay mild, upper 60s to around 70°F, with only a small chance of a shower Sunday. Rain chances climb a week from today.
Peak Watch. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau says northern Monroe is about 30% turned and should peak Oct. 10 to 17. Southern Monroe is only about 10% there and should peak Oct. 20 to 28.
KIDNAPPING CHARGES AT A MIDDLE SMITHFIELD RENTAL
A British man is charged with kidnapping after state police say he held a man captive at a short-term rental in Middle Smithfield Township, where the victim says he was wrapped in plastic and hit with a hammer, the Pocono Record reported Friday.
What Happened. According to the criminal complaint, as reported by the Record, Pennsylvania State Police in Stroudsburg got a call the morning of Sept. 23 from a Robin Lane resident: a man was at the door, bleeding from his ear, saying someone was trying to "take him." Later that morning, a second Robin Lane homeowner called about what a surveillance camera had caught at a short-term rental on the street: a man gesturing as if his throat had been cut and mouthing "nine one one."
Inside the Rental. Troopers found a U-Haul in the driveway and, while searching the house for other victims, "large amounts of blood" throughout it, along with cleaning supplies, plastic wrap, a suitcase, bedding and towels. At the hospital, the victim had multiple deep cuts on his face and told troopers his ankle had been hit with a hammer. He gave troopers few details, the complaint says, but confirmed there were two pounds of marijuana in the suitcase. Before he was released, he told a trooper he had been "wrapped and tied up in plastic" and told he would be held there for two days. A search warrant turned up bloodstained clothing, a couch cushion cover, a mop head and three more pounds of vacuum-sealed marijuana.
The Arrest. New Jersey State Police stopped the BMW being driven by Joshua D. Billson, 31, who was identified by his United Kingdom passport and, according to the complaint, was covered in blood. Troopers say the car held a bloodstained hammer, knife, jacket and hat, plus bolt cutters, wire cutters, a metal baseball bat and a box cutter.
The Charges. Court records show Billson, 31, faces two first-degree felony counts of kidnapping, one of them kidnapping for ransom and the other kidnapping to facilitate a felony, plus a second-degree felony count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and misdemeanor counts of possessing an instrument of crime and tampering with evidence. The complaint was filed Sept. 25 before Magisterial District Judge Jamie Levy in Marshalls Creek, and the docket lists the case as awaiting a preliminary hearing, with no hearing date set. The court record does not say whether he has been returned to Pennsylvania. We'll pass it along as soon as we have it. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Why It Matters Here. Back in June, we wrote about two violent cases tied to short-term rentals in Coolbaugh Township and Middle Smithfield, and about House Bill 2303, the bill that would give counties a rental registry, a local contact reachable around the clock and baseline safety standards. It's still sitting in committee: LegiScan shows no action on it since it was referred in March.
THE DAILY RUNDOWN
Knife Attack in a Car, With a Child Inside. Crime Radar first reported the call. Stroud Area Regional Police say a witness saw a woman in the driver's seat of a gray Nissan attacking a male passenger with a knife outside a business in the 1800 block of West Main Street, Stroud Township, around 5:07 p.m. Thursday (Oct. 1). Officers stopped the car at South Sixth and Main streets in Stroudsburg. The passenger had a large sharp-force injury on the top of his left hand, police said, and a young child was in the car. Angel Tytianna Bobbitt, 29, of East Stroudsburg, faces seven charges, including aggravated assault and endangering the welfare of children, FOX56 reports. She is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Unconfirmed: Knife Threat at an East Stroudsburg Market. Officers responded Sunday to a delayed complaint at the Asian Market on South Courtland Street in East Stroudsburg, where a man allegedly thrust a knife at an employee and then left, according to a police radio report picked up by Crime Radar. We heard the radio call ourselves, but police have not posted anything about it and we have not been able to confirm the details, including when the incident itself happened, whether anyone was hurt or whether anyone has been charged. We'll update you when police release more.
Gas Drops a Nickel. The average for East Stroudsburg is $4.41 per gallon, down about 5 cents from $4.46 a week ago and below the state average of $4.48, per AAA. Statewide, that's still about 18 cents more than a month ago.
Thomas Street Fire Displaces Neighbors. A fire broke out at a multi-family home in the 600 block of Thomas Street in Stroudsburg around 5:30 a.m. Sunday, the Stroudsburg Fire Department said. Crews found heavy flames and smoke across several floors; the fire appears to have started on the first floor and spread into second-floor apartments. No one was hurt, but several people were displaced, and the American Red Cross is helping them. Fire companies from Stroud Township, East Stroudsburg and Pocono Township assisted. The cause is under investigation, WFMZ and WNEP report.
Locust Ridge Road Closed Until Midday. A downed tree tangled in wires has closed Locust Ridge Road (SR 4003) in both directions between Caughbaugh Road and Arrowhead Drive in Coolbaugh Township since Saturday morning. PennDOT's 511PA expects it to reopen around noon today, so plan another route for the morning commute.
ESU Wins Homecoming. East Stroudsburg University beat West Chester 27-13 Saturday at Eiler-Martin Stadium to improve to 4-1. The Warriors visit Bloomsburg Saturday at 6 p.m.
WHAT WERE YA THINKIN'
Hit, Run and Expired. Pocono Township police say officers were alerted to a dark Dodge Ram dually involved in a hit-and-run on Route 33 around 8 p.m. Sept. 4. When they found the truck, its registration had expired, and the driver, Jeremy James Robertson, was charged with DUI at the high rate, according to a CrimeWatch post the department put up Sunday. Pro tip: if you're planning a getaway, don't make it in a truck with two extra rear wheels and an expired registration. He is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
THE WEEK AHEAD
Pocono Mountain School Board: $90 Million Vote (Wednesday, Oct. 7, 6 p.m.) The board votes on a resolution to borrow up to $90 million through general obligation notes, to refinance existing bonds and pay for a capital improvement project, per the district's public notice. The first of two series is capped at $35 million. The meeting is in the board room of the district's Administration Building in Swiftwater, with a Zoom option. The notice doesn't spell out the project or what it could mean for your tax bill. We'll report what the board decides.
Tobyhanna Township Supervisors (Monday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m.) Tonight's work session lists a "Hydrogeologic Study Ordinance" and an "Environmental Impact Study Ordinance" for discussion. It's in person at the township building, 105 Government Center Way, Pocono Pines, and streamed online.
Delaware Water Gap Borough Council (Monday, Oct. 5, 6 p.m.) On the agenda: swearing in Police Officer Randy Schlatter, a Data Center Ordinance Amendment, action on trespass and unauthorized construction at Shull Park, and a parking ticket increase.
Stroudsburg Safe Streets Main Street Task Force (Monday, Oct. 5) The task force holds its first meeting, which WFMZ reported will be closed to the public.
Middle Smithfield Supervisors Work Session (Monday, Oct. 5, 6:30 p.m.) Regular Monday work session at the municipal building, 147 Municipal Drive.
Mount Pocono Borough Council (Tuesday, Oct. 6, 6 p.m.) A vote on applying for a PennDOT grant for the Mount Pocono Downtown Neighborhood Pedestrian Safety & Connectivity Project, plus new rules requiring community event partners to show 501(c) status, file a borough event form and provide insurance.
East Stroudsburg Borough Council (Tuesday, Oct. 6, 7 p.m.) Regular council meeting at 24 Analomink St.
Monroe County Commissioners (Wednesday, Oct. 7, 9:30 a.m.) Regular meeting at One Quaker Plaza, Room 201, Stroudsburg.
Middle Smithfield Supervisors (Wednesday, Oct. 7, 7 p.m.) Moved up a day from its usual Thursday slot.
Governor's Debate (Wednesday, Oct. 7, 8 p.m.) Gov. Josh Shapiro and Treasurer Stacy Garrity meet in the first Pennsylvania governor's debate since 2018, carried on Nexstar stations.
Voter Deadlines (Monday, Oct. 19, and Tuesday, Oct. 27) Register to vote by Oct. 19. Apply for a mail ballot by Oct. 27.