Police Log, 4/10/2024

NORTHERN SCHUYLKILL – The following is a collection of police incidents reported by local law enforcement agencies in our region.

Retail Theft

SHENANDOAH – A west end man is facing a felony retail theft charge after borough police said he shoplifted a pack of cupcakes.

Shawn Grady, 49, of 222 West Centre Street, was arraigned Wednesday.

In court papers, borough police said they were called to Turkey Hill on South Main Street around 8pm on March 28.

There, store staff said they saw Grady enter the store wearing a blue jacket, take a pack of cupcakes, hide them in his jacket, and leave without paying.

The incident was caught on surveillance footage, police said, and he has two prior retail theft convictions, which upgrade the charge to a felony.

He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail and a preliminary hearing is set for April 18.

Assault

MOREA – A Morea woman is in Schuylkill County Prison, accused of strangling her boyfriend, whom she accused of cheating.

Jennifer Butts, 34, of 113 Roosevelt Drive, is facing felony strangulation and summary assault charges for the incident.

According to the criminal complaint filed in Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker’s office, troopers were called to her home around 1pm Saturday.

Troopers said Butts had believed her boyfriend, the victim, was cheating on her. The victim had been sleeping on the couch in the living room while Butts was upstairs.

The victim told troopers that Butts came downstairs and threw a table at him before pulling his hair and grabbing him by the neck, telling them she “almost choked me out.”

Butts, troopers said, then slammed the victim into a door and punched him in the face. The victim was eventually able to escape and seek assistance.

Butts was arraigned Saturday and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $15,000 cash bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for April 25.

Fleeing

SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS – A New Jersey man is free on bail after West Mahanoy Township Police say he took off on a motorcycle after they tried to stop him for reckless driving

Joherlin Bonifacio, 35, of 40 Washington Street, East Orange, is facing felony charges for the incident.

According to the criminal complaint, police spotted Bonifacio on a Suzuki motorcycle “driving recklessly” on Schuylkill Avenue in Shenandoah Heights around 6pm Tuesday, taking off at a high rate of speed, slowing down, and speeding up again as police were behind.

He turned off Schuylkill Avenue onto Cemetery Road without signaling before leading police on a chase into the cemeteries.

Bonifacio fled into the woods and police were flagged down by a resident who spotted him hiding behind a wood pile in a backyard.

He was taken into custody without incident and the bike was found nearby with a destroyed VIN and a New Jersey plate that did not match the bike.

Bonifacio was charged with felony fleeing, felony destruction of a VIN, misdemeanor fraudulent title, registration, or insurance, and summary traffic violations.

He was arraigned Tuesday and initially committed to Schuylkill County Prison with bail set at $25,000.

Bail was posted Wednesday through a bondsman in Reading.

A preliminary hearing is set for April 18.

Assault, DUI

ALTAMONT – A Shenandoah woman is facing misdemeanor simple assault and DUI charges after an incident Monday in West Mahanoy Township.

Samantha Shatalsky, 37, of 426 East Arlington Street, was charged Monday by township police.

According to court documents, police were called to a home on North Line Street in the Altamont section for a domestic dispute around 9pm Monday. The caller said Shatalsky was “out of control” in the home, throwing items around and physically attacking the caller, her boyfriend.

Shatalsky then left in a Kia, driving on the Gold Star Highway towards Shenandoah.

When police attempted to stop the car, it began to speed up and was swerving on the road, nearly striking a guiderail.

The vehicle stopped in the Valero parking lot in Shenandoah and police reported an odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle.

She told police that she was only driving because her boyfriend punched her in the face and kicked her out of the house.

Field sobriety tests were administered and she was taken into custody under suspicion of DUI.

Police also visited the home in Altamont, which they said was in total disarray and the victim had visible bite and scratch marks, which he said were caused by Shatalsky.

She was arraigned Monday and released on $15,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for April 17.

Retail Theft

ASHLAND – A Shenandoah Heights woman is facing retail theft charges, accused of shoplifting from the Dollar General in Ashland.

Amber Manhart, 30, of 191 Virginia Avenue, is facing a misdemeanor count each of retail theft and receiving stolen property.

According to court paperwork, Ashland Police were called to the Dollar General on March 26 for a theft over the prior weekend.

Manhart, police said, was caught on camera at the self-checkout, scanning some items but not others. She failed to pay for a coloring book, phone charger, Pillsbury rolls, and more, totaling $34.94.

A preliminary hearing is set for April 24.

Hit-And-Run

FRACKVILLE – State Police at Frackville are investigating a hit-and-run here over the weekend.

Troopers said it happened around 11am Saturday in the 100 block of East Pine Street.

A vehicle was headed west on Pine Street when it struck the rear of a parked 2019 Chevrolet Suburban and fled.

No witnesses saw the crash, and the Suburban had minor damage.

Anyone with information should call State Police at Frackville at 570-874-5300.

Assault

AUBURN – A 21-year-old Mahanoy City man told State Police he was struck in the back of the head with a pebble at a home here last month.

State Police at Schuylkill Haven said Monday that they were called to a home on Front Street around 3pm on March 29 for a reported disturbance between neighbors.

There, troopers said the victim — a 21-year-old man from Mahanoy City– said the suspect, who was not identified and has not yet been charged, threw a pebble at him and hit him in the back of the head while he was on the phone in his grandparents driveway.

Harassment

BEURYS LAKE – An Ashland man is facing a harassment citation after an argument between him and his wife turned physical.

State Police at Schuylkill Haven said they were called to a home on Bass Drive in Barry Township around 6:30pm for the incident.

Troopers said an argument between Carlos Borges-Lebron, 34, of Ashland, and his 37-year-old wife turned physical.

Borges-Lebron was cited for harassment.

Hit-And-Run

HUMBLODT STATION – State Police at Hazleton are seeking a vehicle they say made a careless turn on Route 924 near Commerce Drive here and caused a four-car crash, injuring two people.

Troopers said the crash happened around 3pm April 1 as four vehicles were headed westbound on the CANDO Expressway, Route 924.

The offending vehicle, which was not described by troopers, made a careless lane change from the far right lane into the left straight lane, striking a Lexus RX400 with its trailer, forcing the Lexus to its left.

The Lexus, driven by Jose Cabrera Estrella, 68, of Hazleton, then swerved right to avoid striking another vehicle and struck the drivers side of a 2010 Honda Civic, driven by Javier Pena Pena, 25, of Hazleton.

The Lexus then swerved again and struck a 2008 Lincoln Navigator, driven by Juan Tejeda, 54, of Hazleton.

Cabrera Estrella and Clara Escolostillo De Batista, 52, of Hazleton, a passenger in the Civic, suffered minor injuries and were treated at the scene.

The offending vehicle continued south and did not stop.

Vehicle Theft

BEAVER BROOK – State Police at Hazleton are investigating the theft of a truck from a trucking company here, between Hazleton and McAdoo, last month.

Troopers said the theft happened on March 21 around 5am at Triple J Trucking at 1490 South Church Street.

They said someone gained access to a black 2004 Kenworth with PA plate number AH-29887 and a Triple J Trucking logo on the doors.

Anyone with information should call State Police at Hazleton at 570-4590-3890.

Vehicle Accident

HUMBOLDT – Two people from our area were hurt in a crash last month here.

State Police at Hazleton said the crash happened around 6:30pm on March 18 at Route 924 and Chestnut Hill Drive.

Troopers said Sorina Horga, 28, of Sheppton, was headed north on Route 924 in a 2017 Kia Forte as Jeffrey Nemeth Sr., 51, of Frackville, was stopped at the traffic light in a 2021 Jeep.

Horga rear-ended Nemeth’s Jeep.

Both drivers were taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital – Hazleton for treatment of minor injuries.

Vehicle Accident

ALTAMONT – West Mahanoy Township Police are investigating the theft of a truck tool box here on March 26.

Police said it happened in the area of the 100 block of Back Alley.

The owner of the tool box went to retrieve the box and found it was gone.

A gold 2005 Chevrolet truck with ladder racks may be responsible, police said.

Anyone with information is asked contact township police at 570-462-2360.

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