Man charged
following assault
SHENANDOAH — A borough man is free on bail after being charged in connection with an assault that occurred about 3 p.m. Wednesday at Tina’s Flower Shop on South Main Street.
Shenandoah police charged Joseph Lewandowski, 55, of 119 S. Main St., Apt. 2, with one count each of aggravated assault and simple assault and two counts each of recklessly endangering another person, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Lewandowski was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.
Police charged Lewandowski with assaulting his wife, Tina Lewandowski, and his daughter, Amanda Lewandowski.
The man threw a hard lunch cooler at his wife and pushed her through a doorway and then struck his daughter’s face and grabbed her by the neck when she tried to intervene, police said.
Joseph Lewandowski will now have to answer to the charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Police: 3 stole
from Wal-Mart
ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens are investigating a retail theft incident that occurred between 2:50 and 4:05 p.m. Jan. 20 at Wal-Mart, Washington Township, Dauphin County.
Police said two Pottsville women, ages 31 and 29, and a 23-year-old Pottsville man, all of whom were not identified by police despite their identities being known, placed items into a shopping cart and left the store without paying.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-362-8700.
Police charge
woman with theft
State police at Schuylkill Haven filed charges against a Pottsville woman on Monday stemming from a Nov. 24, 2015, incident at Rent-A-Center, Pottsville Park Plaza, Norwegian Township.
Police said Andrea Mary Spece, whose last known address was on West Norwegian Street, signed an agreement for an Asus laptop but then stopped making the required payments and failed to return the machine.
Spece will now have to appear before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, on charges of theft of leased property and receiving stolen property.
Police investigate
Yamaha ATV theft
SAINT CLAIR — Saint Clair police are investigating the theft of a blue and white 2011 Yamaha ATV that occurred during the overnight hours Jan. 30.
Police said someone stole the vehicle owned by Edward L. Haag, 235 Oak St., East Norwegian Township, while it was in front of his home.
Police are urging all residents of the borough and township to secure their ATVs due to an increase in suspicious activity.
Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Saint Clair police at 570-429-2240. All information will remain confidential.
Man faces felony
charge of gun theft
LYKENS — State police at Lykens said they have filed charges against an Elizabethville man as the result of an investigation into a February 2012 incident in this Dauphin County community.
Police said Todd A. Marberger, 41, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville, on felony charges of theft of a firearm, receiving stolen property and persons not to possess firearms and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Police said Marberger stole a Ruger Blackhawk .44 Magnum revolver owned by John E. Kute Jr., Lykens.
Several attempts were made to locate Marberger, and police said numerous people were interviewed throughout the year. Marberger was located with the assistance of the state police Fugitive Apprehension Unit and the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center.
The weapon, police said, has not been recovered.
Police: Bicycle
stolen from home
ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens are investigating a burglary that occurred between Sept. 15 and 25, 2015, on West Main Street in this Dauphin County community.
Police said Jan. 30 that someone entered the home of a 36-year-old borough woman, stole a bicycle and fled the area.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-362-8700.
Police charge man
for fight with girl
ELIZABETHVILLE — A Columbia man was charged by state police at Lykens with harassment after an incident about 11:20 a.m. Jan. 17 at 115 W. Main St. in this Dauphin County community.
Police said Francis Lee III will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville.
Lee was charged after he entered into an argument with a female juvenile that escalated with him grabbing her and pinning her down, police said.
Pottsville police
probe fake $100s
Pottsville police are investigating recently reported incidents involving patrons using fake $100 bills for payment at local businesses.
Police said Monday that a report was made on two occasions between Dec. 31, 2015, and Jan. 21, someone used a fake $100 bill to pay for items at Pottsville Provision Store.
Then, on Tuesday, police said it was reported by the owner of Smoker’s Heaven that about three weeks prior, a man used a fake $100 in that store.
Police said they are actively investigating both incidents and ask that anyone with information to call them at 570-622-1234.
In addition, police are advising local businesses to use extra diligence in confirming the authenticity of $100 bills being submitted for payment and report any counterfeit incidents immediately.
Williamstown
hit, run reported
WILLIAMSTOWN — State police at Lykens are investigating a hit-and-run crash that occurred about 9:50 p.m. Jan. 26 on East Grubb Street, just east of Ray Street in this Dauphin County community.
Police said an unidentified vehicle entered a yard and struck a fence while trying to drive on an icy parking lot at the end of a dead-end street.
A witness reported hearing noises, looking out of his window and seeing a truck trying to be driven out of a snow bank, police said.
A second vehicle, possibly an SUV, arrived, pulled the truck back onto the parking lot and both left the area, traveling west on East Grubb Street.
Police: City man
stole another’s ID
MILLERSBURG — State police at Lykens are investigating an identity theft incident that occurred between 8 and 11 p.m. Monday.
Police said that a 25-year-old Pottsville man, whom they did not identify, accidentally made two payments using information owned by a 34-year-old Millersburg man.
Police also did not release the name of that man but said on the news release that his identity is known.
Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to call state police at Lykens at 717-362-8700.
Driver to be cited
for failing to stop
ELIZABETHVILLE — A crash that occurred about 1:40 p.m. Monday on Route 209, just west of Bickle Crossing Road in Washington Township, is being investigated by state police at Lykens.
Police said Dustin A. Wileman, 28, of Lykens, was driving a 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 west behind a 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer being driven by Jessica M. Kassirer, 31, of Lykens, who was behind a Kia Soul.
The driver of the Kia Soul turned from Route 209 while Kassirer applied her brakes and came to a stop behind the Kia as it was turning, police said. Wileman failed to stop his truck and ran into the back of the Kassirer SUV.
Kassirer and a front seat passenger in her vehicle complained of injuries and were taken to Harrisburg Hospital for evaluation. Wileman and another passenger in the Kassirer SUV were not hurt, police said.
Police said Wileman will be cited for following too closely as well as other violations.
Police were assisted by Elizabethville firefighters and Medic 6.
Arrest warrant
obtained for thief
State police at Frackville have obtained a felony arrest warrant for a 22-year-old Pottsville woman in connection with an incident about 8:50 a.m. Wednesday at 47 Water Dam Road in Cass Township.
Police said Malea M. Schoffstall took a vehicle owned by Sarah E. Schoffstall, 75, of Pottsville, without permission and also took a cellphone, prescription medication and $150 from Sharon M. Kostura, 54, of Pottsville.
The vehicle is described as a gold 2003 Dodge Intrepid and has a Pennsylvania registration of ERG-8148, police said.
Police said they obtained the arrest warrant from Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont, and ask anyone with information on the whereabouts of Malea Schoffstall to call them at 570-874-5300.
Woman arraigned
for PFA violation
NEW RINGGOLD — A Minersville woman is free on bail after being charged by state police at Frackville with violating a Protection From Abuse order about 1 p.m. Wednesday at 57 Hope Ave. in East Brunswick Township.
Police said Tracey Lynn Wike, 38, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and released on her own recognizance.
Wike violated the court order by arriving at the home of her husband, Randall Wike, 40, knowing she was not allowed to do so.
Passenger hurt
in rear-end crash
ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens investigated a crash that occurred about 12:25 p.m. Jan. 30 at Route 209 and Rakers Mill Road in Washington Township, Dauphin County.
Police said Christy L. Warfel, 42, of Halifax, was driving a 2010 Honda Odyssey and stopped in the northbound lane of Route 209 while waiting for a vehicle in front of her to turn. While stopped, she was struck from behind by a 2006 Honda Odyssey driven by Ashley N. Schwalm, 19, of Tower City.
Police said Schwalm was distracted and traveling about 40 mph when she struck the Warfel vehicle.
Warfel and Schwalm were not injured but a passenger in the Warfel vehicle, Patrick A. Rauch, 48, of Liverpool, was taken to Pinnacle Hospital West Shore by Millersburg EMS for treatment.
Police said summary charges including following too closely were filed against Schwalm.
Elizabethville Area firefighters assisted with traffic control.
Police investigate
home burglary
State police at Lykens are looking for burglars who invaded a home in Dauphin County on Jan. 28, causing $300 in damage and stealing between $300 and $460, police said Thursday.
The incident occurred between 12:45 and 4:30 p.m. Jan. 28 at a home on Rumshtown Road, Lykens Township, and the victims were two men, ages 58 and 61, police said.
The burglars gained entry by smashing a window on a side door, reaching through and unlocking the door. Once inside, they removed about $300 to $400 in loose and rolled U.S. coins and about $60 in paper currency in $1 and $5 bills. They then fled in an unknown direction, police said.
Man charged
with harassment
A Pottsville man was charged with harassment by state police at Schuylkill Haven after incidents between Nov. 2 and 7, 2015, involving the Hillside SPCA in North Manheim Township.
Police said Arthur Johns, 58, will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.
Police said the SPCA received about 36 calls during two separate days from Johns, tying up their telephone lines.
SPCA officials reported Johns was playing music and demanding his dog back despite being told the shelter does not have his dog, police said.
When warned by state police to stop calling the SPCA or face arrest, police said Johns told them, “come and get me.”
Police probe
medication theft
Pottsville police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred about 10 p.m. Jan. 22 at 712 Mahantongo Street, Apt. 4.
Police said Wednesday they received preliminary information that a 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman had been robbed of money and medication while inside the building by an unidentified black man.
The robber is described as being young and wearing a hooded sweatshirt, police said.
Police said the victims confirmed the incident occurred but they had not reported it.
The man and woman also reported the man entered the apartment accompanied by a mutual friend prior to brandishing the weapon.
Police said the investigation is ongoing with multiple interviews being conducted and ask that anyone with information call Pottsville police at 570-622-1234, ext. 350.
Police arrest
fugitive after fight
SAINT CLAIR — A woman wanted by Saint Clair police on a retail theft arrest warrant was taken into custody by state police at Schuylkill Haven in Pine Grove on Wednesday after a domestic dispute.
Saint Clair police said state troopers contacted them, saying they had Kristen M. Petrozino, 29, whose last known address was 30 Caroline Ave., Saint Clair, in custody and learned about the outstanding arrest warrant.
State police transported the woman to Saint Clair police and she was subsequently arraigned on the warrant by on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.
Petrozino was then committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $10,000 bail. She will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.
Burglary may be
linked to more
KEMPTON — State police at Hamburg are investigating a burglary that occurred between 10:15 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Thursday at 1117A and 1117B Hawk Mountain Road in Albany Township, Berks County.
Police said someone forced their way into the rear of the residence by breaking a window and, once inside, took a pillow case and went through drawers, removing jewelry and coins before going into an adjoining residence where they took a black backpack and put jewelry in it.
Police said the burglary may be related to others in the area, including recent ones that occurred in Lehigh County.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police at Hamburg at 610-562-6885.