Police probe ID theft case
HAMBURG - State police at Hamburg are investigating an identity theft incident that occurred between Jan. 1 and April 15 and involved two Hamburg residents.
Police said Joseph Raysor and Jane Vinnetta Yoder Raysor, both of Hamburg, reported someone used their personal information to file a fraudulent tax return. Police said the victims' financial statuses were not compromised.
Ground wire taken at tower
DELANO - State police at Frackville are investigating the theft of wire from a Delano Township cellular telephone tower site that occurred between April 1 and Tuesday.
Police said someone cut a chain-link fence, entered the site and proceeded to remove about 150 feet of ground wire from the tower owned by Crown Castle Corp., Canonsburg.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.
Tamaqua woman not hurt in crash
HIGHRIDGE - A 50-year-old Tamaqua woman escaped injury in a one-vehicle crash on Keystone Boulevard, near the Lowe's Regional Distribution Center in Cass Township, about 3:40 p.m. Tuesday, police said.
State police at Frackville said Jane Sunday was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer north when she swerved to miss a cat that ran in front of her vehicle. The woman lost control, causing the SUV to slide across both lanes, strike a concrete curb and go off the road and up a small embankment.
Sunday was not hurt, but police said she will be cited for driving at an unsafe speed as a result of the crash.
Man faces charge in incident
WILLIAM PENN - A 29-year-old Lost Creek man was arrested by state police at Frackville and charged with public drunkenness after an incident at St. Paul Street and Mount Olive Boulevard in West Mahanoy Township at 8:15 a.m. Monday.
Police said Michael T. Pritula was issued a nontraffic citation and will have to answer to the charge in district court.
Police said they charged Pritula after he was found at the intersection in an intoxicated condition.
Police: Man fails to pay for meal
HOMETOWN - A 46-year-old Barnesville man is facing theft charges by Rush Township police after an incident at Basiles Restaurant at 7:53 p.m. Thursday.
Police said Perry Wagner caused a disturbance and then left the restaurant without paying for his food.
Charges against Wagner will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, police said.
Impersonation results in charges
HOMETOWN - Rush Township police said a 62-year-old Weatherly man is facing charges of impersonating a public servant after a recent traffic stop on Claremont Avenue.
Police said officers stopped a vehicle driven by George Kolar for traffic violations and the man said he was a Carbon County sheriff and also displayed a Carbon County sheriff's badge.
It was learned through the Carbon County sheriff's office that the man was never a sheriff in that county.
The charge against Kolar will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.
Woman jailed after assault
An 18-year-old Pottsville woman was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police and charged with domestic violence-simple assault after an incident at 2124 W. Norwegian St. at 10:20 p.m. Thursday.
Police said Brook Knepper was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $10,000 bail.
Police said Knepper assaulted Zachery Zerby, 18, at the couple's home causing abrasions on his stomach and back and also biting him on the left arm during a physical argument.
During the investigation police said officers found numerous marijuana plants inside the home that were in the beginning stages of being cultivated. The plants were seized and police said Zerby admitted he was attempting to grow the marijuana.
Police said the investigation is continuing and charges are pending the results of laboratory tests.
Incident nets charges for man
Pottsville police arrested a 22-year-old city man and charged him in connection with an incident at North Towne Apartments, 512 N. Centre St., that occurred about 10:30 p.m. Friday.
Police said Iashe Thompson was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James J. Reiley on charges of simple assault, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and possession of a controlled substance and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Police said officers were called to the area for a complaint about a suspicious man loitering on the property and found Thompson smoking marijuana and in possession of a controlled substance. When officers tried to take Thompson into custody, he resisted and had to be subdued, police said.
Duo jailed in incident
Two people were committed to Schuylkill County Prison after being arrested by Pottsville police in connection with an incident at the Family Dollar Store, 1013 W. Market St. at 7:49 p.m. Saturday.
Police said Robert T. Malia, 43, of Coal Township, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Carol A. Pankake, Tremont, on charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, flight to avoid apprehension, criminal mischief and numerous traffic violations. He was committed to prison unable to post $35,000 straight cash bail.
Additionally, police said Melissa Jo Ritzman, 28, also of Coal Township, was arraigned by Pankake on charges of access device fraud, retail theft, flight to avoid apprehension, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. She was also committed to prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.
Police said officers were called to the store for a retail theft in progress and saw Malia and Ritzman fleeing the scene. Police said officers followed the vehicle the two were in and stopped it in the 2500 block of West Norwegian Street and the two taken into custody.
Police said officers found numerous items of drug paraphernalia in the vehicle belonging to both Malia and Ritzman.
Police issue arrest warrant
TAMAQUA - Borough police said a warrant has been issued for Earl Hartranft, no age or address available, after an incident at 514 Lincoln St. at 1:15 a.m. Sunday.
Police said Hartranft faces charges of criminal trespass, persistent disorderly conduct, loitering and prowling at night, criminal mischief and harassment.
Officers were called to the area for an attempted break-in and found Hartranft on the front porch. As police were securing the scene and speaking with two men, Hartranft crossed the street and jumped over a 9-foot wall.
The door to the residence was damaged beyond repair from Hartranft trying to enter the home while the family inside was pushing and holding the door shut, police said.
Tamaqua man faces charges
TAMAQUA - A 42-year-old man was arrested by Tamaqua police and charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment after a domestic incident at 120 Centre St. at 10:35 a.m. Friday.
Police said Mario Ruano, whose address was not available, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $100,000 straight cash bail.
Police allege Ruano held a knife to Irma Martinez's throat and threatened to kill her if she spoke. Police said he also told the woman the "better do the right thing" or she would be dead before police arrive and he would be gone.
The man also struck Martinez in the back of the head with his fist, police said, adding that the knife involved was recovered at the scene.
Police issue lock advisory
TAMAQUA - Borough police are warning residents at the eastern end of the borough to keep the doors and windows of their homes and vehicles locked at all times.
Police said there have been numerous attempted burglaries and burglaries in the area.
Anyone with information on suspicious activities is asked to call police at 570-668-5000.
2 face charges in lot incident
TAMAQUA - Two people were arrested by borough police and charged with underage drinking and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident in the Burger King parking lot on Centre Street at 9:45 p.m. April 14.
Police said Zachery D. Pisanchyn, 19, and Joseph N. Kamant, no age available, will have to appear before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.
Police said officers were called to the area for a report of underage drinking and found a vehicle driven by Pisanchyn leaving the lot.
Police said both men showed signs of being intoxicated and while Kamant was exiting the vehicle, officers saw a container on the floor of the car that had a smoking pipe sticking out of it.
Drug charges filed in incident
TAMAQUA - A 24-year-old borough man was arrested by Tamaqua police and charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident to the rear of Oak Street by the Southward Playground at 7:56 p.m. April 14.
Police said Dennis Yeater, 307 Race St., will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.
Police said officers were called to the area for a report of possible drug activity and the investigation led to charges being filed against Yeater.
Woman charged in Tamaqua
TAMAQUA - Borough police arrested a woman and charged her with public drunkenness after an incident at Penn and Oak streets at 6:10 a.m. Friday.
Police said Shawn Lorraine Bush, whose age or address was not available, was found sleeping in her own vomit on the ground between a curb and a Chevrolet Blazer.
Police said Bush did not own the vehicle or live in the area. She will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, police said.
Woman charged in traffic stop
TAMAQUA - A 35-year-old Tamaqua woman was arrested by borough police and charged with criminal trespass and driving with a suspended license after an incident at 304 Lincoln St. at 4:30 p.m. April 9.
Police said Kimberly Keach will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.
Police said officers saw Keach driving a vehicle and turned around to stop her because they knew she had a suspended license. The woman parked and entered a fenced-in yard at 304 Lincoln St. to avoid being apprehended, police said.
Truck strikes embankment
HOMETOWN - Rush Township police investigated a one-vehicle crash that occurred at 3:45 p.m. Sunday on Marian Avenue.
Police said Jarred Foilweiler, 22, of Quakake, was driving a Dodge Ram truck when he lost, control causing it to go off the road, hit an embankment and roll over.
The man was taken to the Rush Township police station where a breath test determined he had an alcohol of 0.126 percent. The legal limit is 0.08 percent.
Foilweiler is facing charges of DUI and other traffic violations as a result of the crash, police said.