Police Log, 10/7/2024
NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL – The following is a collection of police incidents reported by local law enforcement agencies in our region.
Vehicle Accident
MAHANOY CITY – An Orwigsburg man was taken to a local hospital after a motorcycle crash on the Pottsy over the weekend.
State Police at Frackville said the crash happened around noon Saturday on Mahanoy City Road in Mahanoy Township.
Edward Moyer, 58, of Orwigsburg was riding a 2011 Kawasaki VN900 Vulcan and lost control on a left-hand turn coming down the hill.
He slid on gravel and off the road into a gravel area alongside the road.
Moyer was wearing a helmet and was transported by Ryan Township EMS.
Vehicle Accident
NEW BOSTON – A Frackville woman was taken to a Montour County hospital after a crash near here Friday morning.
The crash happened around 7am Friday on Morea Road near Mahanoy City Road, according to State Police at Frackville.
Troopers said Nikaurys Gil Cepeda, 26, of Frackville, was headed east on Morea Road in a 2010 Honda CRV.
She attempted to make a pass when the rear control arm broke on the car, causing it to slide sideways into the westbound lane of the road and into an embankment.
The vehicle then rolled multiple times.
Gil Cepeda was taken to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville for treatment of injuries. She was wearing a seatbelt.
Assault
GIRARDVILLE – State troopers are seeking a man they say assaulted a 22-year-old woman over the weekend.
Troopers said Damian Hopkins, 39, of Girardville, engaged in a domestic fight with a 22-year-old Girardville woman who “sustained bodily injuries” and declined medical attention, troopers said.
Hopkins fled the scene and troopers are seeking him on charges of simple assault.
Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at Frackville at 570-874-5300.
Theft
TUSCARORA – State troopers are investigating after a hammock was stolen from a Schuylkill Township yard.
Troopers said it was stolen some time Friday at a home on Church Street.
The hammock is described as a stand-alone hammock with heavy black metal and a blue mesh hammock attached.
Anyone with information is asked to call State Police at Frackville at 570-874-5300.
Mail Theft
MARY D – State Police are investigating after a check that was mailed to a non-profit was intercepted and stolen.
Whoever stole the check made a mobile deposit into their personal account.
Troopers are investigating.
Retail Theft
HAZLE TOWNSHIP – A Shenandoah woman is facing a retail theft charge, accused of stealing just under $130 in household goods from Walmart near Hazleton.
State Police at Hazleton filed a non-traffic citation against Arianna Mentusky, 25, of Shenandoah.
Troopers said the alleged theft occurred around 3pm Thursday.
Theft
HUMBOLDT – State troopers are seeking whoever downed transformers from a utility pole in the Humboldt Industrial Park and swiped copper from inside them.
It happened on Stoney Creek Road and was discovered Oct. 2.
State Police at Hazleton said the transformers were removed from the utility pole and damaged, allowing the suspects to access and steal the copper within.
Vehicle Accident
HAZLETON – Seven children were taken to the hospital after a school van crashed near Hazleton in September, State Police at Hazleton said Monday.
The crash happened around 4pm on Alter Street in Hazle Township.
Troopers said Belk Guerrero De Romero, 33, of Hazleton, was driving a 2014 Ford E350 when she told police the van’s brakes malfunctioned. The vehicle drove through several intersections and came to a stop behind Hazleton Apartments.
She was not injured and seven children were taken to a local hospital for suspected minor injuries. They ranged in age from 5-years-old to 10-years-old.
The van was towed from the scene.
Vehicle Accident
BARNESVILLE – A Delano woman was seriously injured in a collision with a tractor trailer.
The crash happened around 7:30am Sept. 27 on Barnesville Drive about half a mile east of Tunnel Road.
Troopers said Renee Hruniuk, 43, of Delano, was headed east on Barnesville Drive in a 2021 Toyota Corolla when she left her lane and entered the opposite lane.
A 2021 Freightliner Cascadia was headed westbound, driven by Carolus Sterckel, 65, of Moncton, New Brunswick.
The two vehicles collided and were disabled.
Hruniuk suffered serious injuries and was taken to a Coaldale hospital for treatment.
Troopers said she will be cited for the crash.
Drug Charges
GIRARDVILLE – A Girardville man is facing felony drug charges after state authorities conducted a search warrant on his home earlier this year.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General filed charges Sept. 20 against Timothy James Smith, 35, of 220 West Main Street.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Narcotics Agent Thomas Sedor, police conducted a search on Smith’s home and his 2023 Subaru sedan on Jan. 4.
That search yielded suspected methamphetamine both on Smith’s person and in a safe, along with a digital scale.
Smith admitted to selling and storing methamphetamine from his home, Sedor alleged in the complaint.
He was arraigned Sept. 23 and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 16 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli.
Flight
NUREMBERG – A Ringtown man is facing felony flight charges after North Union Township Police said he led them on a chase into Columbia County.
James A. Fritz, 42, of 14 East Main Street, was arraigned Sept. 25 on a felony eluding charge and several summary traffic offenses.
According to the criminal complaint filed by North Union Township Police Patrolman Doug Litwhiler, police were on patrol in Nuremberg around 5pm Sept. 25 when Fritz approached in a white Audi sedan at Main and Mahanoy Streets.
Fritz did not have a valid driver’s license, Litwhiler wrote, and the two made eye contact before Fritz took off.
The pursuit led onto Buck Mountain Road “at a very high rate of speed” in excess of 90 miles per hour and onto Route 339 into Columbia County.
Litwhiler called off the chase for safety and a few hours later found Fritz’ vehicle parked outside his house.
The car was promptly impounded and when Fritz exited the home, he was taken into custody.
He was released on $50,000 unsecured bail and a preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 23.
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