Mahanoy City Police launch Preemptive Enforcement Program ahead of summer months
By Kaylee Lindenmuth
MAHANOY CITY – Tuesday, June 5 marked the beginning of “an operation to combat and suppress illegal activities and improve the quality of life within the borough [of Mahanoy City],” the preemptive enforcement program.
“Designed to aggressively seek out fugitives, to prevent offenses that
affect the quality of life for the residents of the community from occurring, and to apprehend criminals in the act of crime commission,” according to a media release, Mahanoy City Police plan to team up with other local law enforcement agencies, Mahanoy City Code Enforcement, and “most importantly- the law-abiding members of the community.”
In the first day of the operation, Patrolmen Jonathan McHugh and Thomas Rentschler participated in the detail, which resulted in the arrests of two on warrants, one on drug charges, and another on trespassing charges.
Around 4:00pm, officers took 46-year-old Hector Lopez, of Mahanoy City, into custody in the 300 block of East Mahanoy Street on a felony warrant for Felony Burglary and Misdemeanor Simple Assault charges. Lopez was arraigned later by Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail.
Just before midnight, a traffic stop occurred in the 300 block of West Centre Street, in which 40-year-old Kelly Kaczmarczyk of Mahanoy City was taken into custody on a Lebanon County bench warrant, for charges of Obstruction of Law Enforcement. Kaczmarczyk additionally faces summary violations as a result of the traffic stop, and was committed to Schuylkill County Prison on the warrant.
A passenger in Kaczmarczyk’s vehicle also faces charges. 33-year-old Heather Kessler, of Mahanoy City, was in possession of three bags of methamphetamine and other items of drug paraphernalia. Kessler faces misdemeanor charges as a result.
Just before 2:00am, officers took into custody a man who was prowling around abandoned homes near West Market and ‘B’ Streets. 52-year-old Edwin Astor, of Mahanoy City, is charged currently with loitering and prowling at nighttime, though additional charges may be forthcoming, as the investigation is not yet complete. A second actor with Astor fled the area, and police are continuing their investigation.
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