Mahanoy man arrested for breaking into burned buildings
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The fire damaged homes on West South Street in Mahanoy City.
MAHANOY CITY – A Mahanoy City man is facing charges for breaking into fire-damaged homes on West South Street as police, code enforcement, and water authority workers were boarding up the homes and removing water meters.
Mahanoy City Police filed charges against Joseph Ray Minnich, 48, of 315 West South Street for the incident.
In his criminal complaint, filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, Patrolman Frank Gallo said he was at the fire-damaged properties in the 300 block of West South Street around 2:00pm assisting the Mahanoy Township Authority and borough code enforcement and public works as they posted the properties unfit and removed water meters.
Public Works Department workers removed the boards from one of the homes, and Gallo, MTA workers, and a code enforcement officer entered.
Inside, Gallo said he heard what sounded like footsteps above.
Gallo approached the second floor, seeing Minnich crossing through a hole in the wall into 309 West South Street. Gallo then stopped Minnich and took him into custody.
Minnich had a book bag and a tool bag with him, containing a can of acrylic latex paint, a can of polyurethane, a can of white spray paint, a can of wood stain, two walkie talkies, a small microphone, three cutoff wheels covered in soot, four flashlights, an adjustable wrench, pliers, nd two screwdrivers.
Minnich, Gallo said, had no right to enter the fire damaged properties.
Charges for burglary, theft by unlawful taking, criminal trespass, receiving stolen property, and possession of instruments of crime with intent were filed against Minnich. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker and committed to county prison, unable to post $25,000 cash bail.
About Author
