Police Log 3/19/23
NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL – The following is a collection of police incidents reported by local law enforcement agencies in our region.
Harassment
SHENANDOAH – A 17-year-old teen has been cited by State Police for harassment.
Troopers said the boy engaged in a verbal altercation with a 45-year-old woman on West Washington Street on March 18. At some point in the argument, the teen grabbed, pushed, and shoved the woman.
The teen has been charged with harassment for the altercation.
Vehicle Accident
HIGHRIDGE – A 19-year-old from Dauphin County was cited for a crash at the Highridge Industrial Park in Cass Township on March 11.
Troopers said Jeffrey Beck Jr., 19, of Harrisburg, was headed south on Highridge Park Road in a 2008 Suzuki SX4 around 8pm. The vehicle left the west side of the roadway, striking a ditch and an embankment before coming to a rest partially submerged in a pond.
The vehicle was towed from the scene by Hammer’s Towing.
Beck was cited for the crash.
Vehicle Accident
HOMETOWN – A Reading man was taken to a Coaldale hospital for treatment of injuries and a Lycoming Co. woman was cited after a crash in this Rush Township village on March 12.
Troopers said the crash happened at Claremont Avenue and Lincoln Drive around 3:30pm.
Barbara Behler, 70, of Williamsport, was leaving the Basile’s Restaurant parking lot and attempted a left turn to head north on Route 309 in a 2022 Subaru Forester.
Behler entered the path of a southbound 2011 Jeep Compass, driven by Emilio Carvajal, 75, of Reading, and the two vehicles collided.
Behler and her passengers — Tracy Mitstifer, 44, of Williamsport, a 15-year-old Williamsport boy, and an 8-year-old Williamsport girl — were evaluated by Tamaqua EMS. None were taken to a hospital.
Carvajal was taken to St. Luke’s Coaldale for injuries. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Vehicle Accident
WEST BRUNSWICK TWP. – A 75-year-old Allentown man was seriously injured in a motorcycle crash here on March 16.
The crash happened around 3pm at Hawk Mountain Road near Mountain Road.
Troopers said Kenneth Haines, 75, of Allentown, was headed east on Hawk Mountain Road on a 2018 Harley-Davidson Street Bob when he drove through loose leaves on the ground and lost the bike.
Haines was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Cedar Crest in Salisbury Township for treatment of suspected serious injury. He was wearing a helmet.
Indecent Exposure
DELANO – A 26-year-old Reading man is accused of masturbating while he was driving on Interstate 81 near this village last month.
State Police released information on the Feb. 23 incident on March 19.
Troopers said they received the report around 4pm on Feb. 23 from a West Virginia man who said he’d seen a man masturbating while driving and obtained the plate number.
When they interviewed the man, Luis Domingo Paneto Jr., he admitted to the lewd act.
He is facing indecent exposure and disorderly conduct charges in Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli’s Frackville courtroom.
Vehicle Accident
FOSTER TWP. – No injuries were reported in a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 on March 13.
The crash happened around 1pm, State Police at Frackville said.
Nathaniel Nixon, 32, of Summerville, South Carolina, was headed north on the interstate in a 2015 Ram pickup towing a trailer. He was travelling in the left lane and his trailer’s tires left the shoulder and went into the grass.
Nixon then lost control of the truck and struck a tree.
He was not injured and received a warning for the crash.
Terroristic Threats
HOMETOWN – A 39-year-old Hazle Township man was threatened with a firearm after a road rage incident.
State Police said they were called to the Walmart plaza in Rush Township around 2pm on March 11.
Troopers said a road rage incident took place over several miles and, at an intersection, the suspect brandished a firearm and threatened the man.
The suspect fled and has not been located, troopers said.
Vehicle Accident
DELANO – A 19-year-old from Schuylkill Haven was cited for a single vehicle accident, accused of falling asleep at the wheel.
State Police at Frackville said the crash happened around 11:30pm March 14 on I-81 near Delano.
Troopers said 19-year-old Harjot Kaur, of Schuylkill Haven, was headed south in the left lane of the interstate in a 2011 Nissan Murano and fell asleep at the wheel.
The Nissan then struck multiple trees before coming to a rest.
Kaur will be cited, troopers said.
Criminal Mischief
NEW RINGGOLD – A 44-year-old New Ringgold man is accused of chucking his neighbor’s arborvitae during an argument.
Troopers said they were called to a home in the 200 block of North Market Street in East Brunswick Township for a criminal mischief incident.
Troopers said 44-year-old Michael Rodriguez-Lebron engaged in an argument with his 66-year-old neighbor.
He threw his neighbor’s barrels around and pulled an arborvitae tree out of the ground, throwing that too.
Rodriguez-Lebron has been cited.
Vehicle Accident
PINE HILL – A Shamokin woman was cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license after a single vehicle weather-related crash in Cass Township on March 10.
The crash happened around 6pm at Sunbury Road and Owl Road around 6pm.
State Police at Frackville said Tara Baker, 30, of Shamokin, was headed south on Route 901 in a 2003 Ford Escape when she lost control on slush covered roads, travelling into the opposite lane and rolling the SUV.
Baker suffered minor injuries but refused transport to the hospital.
Her passengers — 33-year-old Stephen Derr, of Shamokin, and a 3-year-old boy from Shamokin — were uninjured.
Baker was cited for driving with a suspended or revoked license.
Vehicle Accident
NORTH MANHEIM TWP. – An 18-year-old Ringtown teen was not cited when State Police say he struck a tractor trailer, which left its travel lane, on March 12.
The crash happened around 10pm on Route 61 near Penn State Schuylkill.
Troopers said Gino Conti, 18, of Ringtown was headed south on Route 61 in a 2006 Dodge Dakota, following behind a Freightliner tractor trailer driven by Maslah Ahmed Osoble, 35, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota.
The tractor-trailer moved into the left lane as troopers said the truck was attempting a wide right turn. Troopers accused Conti of failing to observe the tractor trailer slowing down and disregarding its right turn signal as the two vehicles collided.
No injuries were reported and Conti’s pickup was towed from the scene.
Vehicle Accident
MAHANOY TWP. – Two from Mount Carmel were injured in a vehicle accident on Interstate 81 on March 9 when troopers accuse the driver of falling asleep at the wheel.
Troopers said Craig Williams, 35, of Mount Carmel, was headed south on I-81 in a 2003 Acura MDX when he fell asleep at the wheel, losing control and striking an embankment.
Williams and his passenger, 19-year-old Kenneth Saborit-Matute, were taken to a Pottsville hospital for treatment of injuries.
Williams was cited for the crash, troopers said.
Theft
MIDDLEPORT – Someone swiped a mountain bike from a home in this Schuylkill Valley borough sometime between Feb. 27 and March 7.
State Police at Frackville said at some time between those days, someone removed a black Giant Talon mountain bike from a home on Coal Street.
Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police at Frackville at 570-874-5300.
Hit-and-Run
DARKWATER – A 69-year-old Shenandoah man was run off the road on Route 61 near Darkwater on March 12 in a hit-and-run crash.
State Police at Frackville said the crash happened around 2:30pm as Joseph Gober, 69, of Shenandoah, was headed north on Route 61 in a 2018 Mazda CX-5.
Another vehicle attempted to pass Gober in a gray or silver sedan and struck Gober’s vehicle, causing him to hit the guiderail on the side of the road.
The striking sedan fled the scene.
No injuries were reported and Gober’s vehicle was able to be driven from the scene.
Anyone with information should contact State Police at Frackville at 570-874-5300.
Burglary
WAYNE TWP. – State Police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a burglary on Kiehner Road near Schuylkill Haven, in which a burglar made of with $2,700 in cash.
Troopers said the burglary happened some time between March 3 and March 8.
Anyone with information should call State Police at Schuylkill Haven at 570-754-3600.
Harassment
TREMONT – A 33-year-old Tremont man was cited for harassment because he texted and called another Tremont man about property issues.
Gregory Ries, 33, of Tremont is accused of sending 22 text messages and making two phone calls to a 31-year-old Tremont man regarding property disputes on March 15.
Theft
WAYNE TWP. – A 19-year-old Lancaster woman is accused of stealing a dog, an iPod, and Airpods from a Pine Grove man.
State Police are investigating the incident, which happened on March 2 on Fair Road.
Troopers said Rebecca Irish-Foltz, 19, of Lancaster, stole a blue heeler/border collie mix, an iPad, and Airpods.
Theft
SHAMOKIN TWP. – Two people from Mount Carmel are accused of attempting to steal scrap metal here on March 10.
State Police at Stonington were called to Irish Valley Road around 10am for an active trespassing incident involving men in ski masks.
Troopers found 54-year-old Ronald Williams and 36-year-old Paul Laurusevage, 36, both of Mount Carmel, trespassing and attempting to steal scrap metal.
Both had cutting instruments in their possession and are facing related charges, troopers said.
Vehicle Accident
TREMONT TWP. – A 28-year-old Mahanoy City woman was injured in a vehicle accident on Interstate 81 on March 12.
The crash happened around 3:30pm near mile marker 105.1, State Police at Jonestown said.
Dominique Canady, 28, of Mahanoy City, was headed south on the interstate in a 2011 Kia Optima.
Troopers said she was travelling in the left lane and came up on a slower vehicle and attempted flashing her lights to get the vehicle to change lanes. State law requires vehicles driving on a multi-lane road to use the right lane unless they are making a pass.
The vehicle ahead instead hit the brakes, causing Canady to lose control of the vehicle and strike a ditch.
Canady was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained minor injuries. She was taken by Tremont EMS to a Pottsville hospital for treatment of injuries.
Canady was cited for speeding.
Troopers did not note the make or model of the other vehicle.
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