Port Carbon man
injured in crash
BARNESVILLE - A Port Carbon man was flown to a trauma center after the car he was driving crashed in Ryan Township late Saturday night.
Ryan Township police said Kevin Warmkessel was driving a 2004 Suzuki Forenza north on Tuscarora Mountain Road, in the area of Church Road, about 11:30 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a right curve, went off the road and struck a tree.
The man was trapped inside his car for a short time and was removed by rescue personnel, police said.
He was then taken to the Ryan Township Fire Company and placed aboard the Med-Evac helicopter and flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township.
Police said that charges of DUI and other offenses are pending against Warmkessel as the investigation continues.
Rush Township police, Ryan Township EMS, Luzerne County Medic 11 and firefighters from Ryan Township, Delano, Mahanoy City and Hometown assisted at the scene.
Delano and Ryan Township fire police assisted with traffic control, police said.
Man found in car
with gunshot
SUFFOLK - A Mahanoy City man was taken to a Pottsville hospital for treatment and psychiatric evaluation after this SUV caught fire and he suffered a gunshot wound in an incident near Route 54 and Suffolk Road in Mahanoy Township on Saturday night.
Mahanoy Township police said they were called to the area about 8:35 p.m. for a vehicle fire and quickly learned that the owner of the vehicle, Eugene Long, also suffered a gunshot wound to the hand.
As the man's SUV was blazing on Reading Anthracite property, almost under a bridge for Route 54, Long, who was highly intoxicated, gave officers from Mahanoy Township and Mahanoy City a difficult time.
Police said officers were finally forced to use their Taser weapons to subdue Long who was then restrained and taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street for treatment of the gunshot wound to his hand and fingers.
Police said the wound came from a .22-caliber rifle that officers recovered at the scene and exactly how Long suffered the hand wound has not been positively determined.
Firefighters from Mahanoy City extinguished the fire and Mahanoy City EMS transported Long to the hospital, police said.
Police said Long will probably face trespass charges for being on Reading Anthracite private property and that additional charges may be pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The cause of the fire that destroyed Long's vehicle has not been determined, police said.
2 men to face
drug charges
HOMETOWN - A Nesquehoning man is facing charges of possession of heroin, possession of drug paraphernalia and underage drinking by Rush Township police after a recent incident in the township.
Benjamin A. Kuzo, 19, was charged with Ashtyn G. Mark, 23, of Liverpool, who facing charges of possession of heroin and furnishing alcohol to minors as a result of the same incident, police said.
Both will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.
Police said the two were charged after a recent incident at the Pine Motel along Route 309. No further information was available.
Man charged
in attempted theft
HOMETOWN - A 51-year-old Tamaqua man was arrested by Rush Township police and charged with criminal attempt to commit theft, conspiracy, criminal trespass and loitering and prowling at night after an incident at 11:20 p.m. Wednesday at the Pines Motel.
Police sad Robert Knepper will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.
Police said that in connection with the same incident, Lori Motzer, 45, of Pottsville, is facing charges of conspiracy.
The two were involved in an incident that Knepper tried to steal an ice machine from the business, police said.
Man charged
in Wal-Mart theft
HOMETOWN - A 17-year-old Weatherly boy was arrested by Rush Township police and charged with retail theft after he tried to steal items valued at $49.70 from Wal-Mart about 11 p.m. Friday.
Charges against the teen will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, police said.