Police Log, 2/14/2024
NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL – The following is a collection of police incidents reported by local law enforcement agencies in our region.
Burglary
SHENANDOAH – A homeless woman is in Schuylkill County Prison on felony burglary charges, accused of breaking into a vacant home.
Brenda Bloss, 50, was arraigned Friday on felony burglary, criminal trespass, misdemeanor theft, and related charges.
In court documents, Shenandoah Patrolman Leo Luciani, Jr., said the custodian of a vacant home at 210 East Lloyd Street called police after it appeared someone had broken in. The custodian is from Scranton, taking care of the home for the owner who lives in Lawrence, Massachusetts.
When Luciani arrived, the custodian unlocked the door and Bloss was found inside. The glass of the rear door of the home had been broken and it appeared Bloss had taken food items and used cooking utensils in the home.
A cloth bag was also found associated with Bloss that contained a hammer, screw drivers, and a retractable knife, tools Luciani told the court are associated with entry to structures.
Bloss was committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post 10% of $10,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 22 before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker.
Flight
SHEPPTON – A West Pittston man is in Schuylkill County Prison after East Union Township Police say he took off into the woods and hid under a car here.
David Carpin, 34, of 19 Fairway Drive, was charged Monday by Sgt. Christopher Dimmick with felony flight and misdemeanor resisting arrest.
In court documents, Dimmick said township police were conducting surveillance on a home on Shepp Street in Sheppton on Saturday. Carpin, he said, was wanted on felony warrants out of Pittston and a bench warrant out of Luzerne County Court.
Carpin was known to say at the home in Sheppton and police received a tip that he was there that day.
Carpin and another woman were seen getting into a van and leaving towards Center Street.
Dimmick attempted to pull the van over, which turned into a parking lot at 982 Center Street, where both occupants bailed.
Carpin hid in front of the van and took off when police discovered him. He ran into the woods with Dimmick in pursuit.
Carpin then tried to hide underneath a vehicle outside 964 Center Street, where he had to be forcefully removed.
He was committed to county prison unable to post $25,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in Shenandoah.
Vehicle Accident
BLYTHE TOWNSHIP – A teen reported minor injuries after a single vehicle accident on Burma Road here over the weekend.
State Police at Frackville said the crash happened around 7pm on Burma Road near Firetower Road.
Jessi Bailey, 19, of Pottsville, was headed north on Burma Road in a 2011 Honda CRV.
Making a left-hand-turn, troopers said she lost control of the vehicle, left the road, and struck a tree.
Bailey was not injured, but her 17-year-old passenger, a Pottsville girl, was and transported herself to a Pottsville hospital for evaluation.
The vehicle had to be towed and troopers said Bailey will be cited.
Vehicle Accident
FRACKVILLE – A North Carolina man will not be cited after State Police at Frackville said he struck a utility pole with his trailer.
The crash happened around 7:10am Monday morning at Spring and Balliet Streets in town.
Troopers said Paul Ryan, 58, of Chapel Hill, NC, was turning right onto North Balliet in a 2022 Ram 2500 Big Horn with a trailer. His trailer struck a utility pole and a nearby resident heard the crash and saw Ryan leaving the scene.
In a release, troopers said Ryan would not be cited.
Vehicle Accident
RUSH TOWNSHIP – A Kulpmont man was not injured in a single vehicle crash near Hometown Saturday evening.
State Police at Frackville said the crash happened around 7:40pm on Route 54 about half a mile west of Marian Avenue.
Michael Benjamin Jr., 30, of Kulpmont was headed east on Route 54 in a 2005 Dodge Durango when the SUV struck a utility pole, crossed both lanes, struck a embankment, and rolled.
The SUV came to a rest on its roof and was disabled.
Benjamin was not injured, and he was not wearing a seatbelt. He will be cited.
Vehicle Accident
VALLEY VIEW – A Pitman woman was taken to a Montour County hospital with minor injuries after a crash in this Hegins Township village Saturday.
State Police at Schuylkill Haven said the crash happened at 9am Saturday on Forest Drive near Main Street.
Bruce Brandt, 76, of Pitman, was headed south on Forest Drive, hitting a pothole and losing control of his 2021 Subaru Ascent.
He was not injured, but his passenger, 59-year-old Shelley Brandt, of Pitman, was. She was taken to Geisinger Danville with minor injuries.
Both were wearing their seatbelt. Bruce Brandt received a warning for the crash.
Theft
BRANCHDALE – State Police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating the theft of six tons of brake rotors and a battery near this Reilly Township village.
Troopers said they were called to Flicker Road and North Tremont Street around midnight Feb. 4.
They said that six tons of iron brake rotors were swiped, worth $2,000, along with a Caterpillar Scrapper battery.
Anyone with information should call State Police at Schuylkill Haven at 570-754-4600.
Vehicle Accident
WEST CAMERON – A Mount Carmel man was cited after State Police at Stonington say he wrecked his car, left it down an embankment, and left the scene.
Troopers said the crash happened around 2pm on Jan. 29 on Lower Road in West Cameron Township.
Daymon Haupt, 20, of Mount Carmel was headed east on Lower Road in a 2015 Nissan Sentra.
The vehicle left the side of the roadway, hit a mound of dirt, and went down an embankment.
It struck multiple trees and came to a rest 30 feet down the embankment.
Haupt was not at the scene and will be cited for the crash.
Troopers were assisted by firefighters from Trevorton and East Cameron.
Assault
LANSFORD – A Columbus, Ohio man is in Carbon County Prison, accused of assaulting a Girardville woman here Sunday night.
State Police at Lehighton said the incident happened around 9:30pm at 13 Center Street, the address of Coal Miners Bar and Grill.
Troopers said they were called there for a fight and arrested Paris Medley, 29, of Columbus.
He is accused of assaulting a 26-year-old woman from Girardville.
Details of the fight and what may have started it were not released.
Medley was arraigned on simple assault, disorderly conduct, and related charges and committed to Carbon County Prison, unable to post $10,000 cash bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 21.
Public Drunkenness
COLONIAL PARK – A Shenandoah man was cited for public drunkenness after state troopers found him walking along the Interstate under the influence in this suburban Harrisburg area.
State Police at Harrisburg said Friday that they were called to Interstate 83 in Lower Paxton Township for reports of a man walking along the highway around 9am Jan. 17.
Troopers found Michael Burns, 41, of Shenandoah, walking along the highway and found he was “manifestly under the influence of a controlled substance to the extent in which he was a threat to himself or others.”
A citation for public drunkenness was filed in a Dauphin County magisterial district court.
Stalking
LYKENS – A Hazleton man is facing stalking and harassment charges in Dauphin County, State Police at Lykens said Sunday.
John Krell, 51, of Hazleton, was charged for the incident on Jan. 18 around 1am.
Troopers said an investigation determined that he was stalking a 29-year-old woman from Lykens.
An arrest warrant was issued and he was taken into custody by Wilkes-Barre Police.
Court documents do not show if he has been committed to prison.
Shoplifting
HAZLE TOWNSHIP – Two men are facing retail theft charges for an incident at the Hazle Township Walmart last week.
State Police at Hazleton said they were called to Walmart around 4:30pm Feb. 5 for a report of retail theft.
Troopers said Jhon Vargas Abreu, 24, of Hazleton, and Carlos Abreu Camilo, 21, of West Hazleton, removed the price tags off a hat and workout gloves and left the store. The items were worth $8.97 each.
Both were cited for retail theft.
Vargas Abreu pleaded guilty on Feb. 8 and fined $271.
Abreu Camillo has not yet entered a plea.
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