Arrest made in
counterfeit probe
Pottsville police on Saturday arrested an Allentown man pursuant to an arrest warrant obtained charging him with passing counterfeit $100 bills.
Police said they apprehended Saya “Stacks” Kilikpo, 27, on the warrant obtained by Patrolman Jonathan Randolph charging him with forgery, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
The charges stem from the man passing two fake $100 bills at Smoker’s Heaven in Pottsville twice in December 2015.
The investigation determined that the man used the counterfeit bills to make purchases Dec. 10 and again the next day and received the items as well as a large amount of cash change.
Kilikpo was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, who set bail at $25,000 straight cash and him to Schuylkill County Prison.
Police said their investigation began on Feb. 2 when the department was notified about the criminal activity.
Police: Resident
caused house fire
SHEPPTON — A Sheppton man was arrested by East Union Township police and charged with causing a fire at his home about 10:35 p.m. Feb. 5.
Police said they charged Henry C. Polk, 55, of 881 Center St., with felony causing or risking a catastrophe and misdemeanor offenses of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana and obstructing emergency services.
Police said officers and firefighters were called to the home and found Polk standing at the front door with heavy smoke inside. Police said Polk initially ignored firefighters telling him to get away from the home but then walked away.
When interviewed, police said, Polk reported putting food into a pan of grease on the stove and then falling asleep before waking up and realizing there was a fire.
The fire forced eight adults and six children to be evacuated from their homes, police said.
Polk was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton for treatment of smoke inhalation.
Firefighters inside the man’s home found marijuana in a coffee mug as well as two burnt pieces of marijuana cigarettes.
At the hospital, police said, Polk refused to explain, saying, “I don’t remember how the fire started.”
Polk will now have to answer to the charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Shenandoah man
faces drug charge
SHEPPTON — East Union Township police charged a Shenandoah man after a traffic stop about 9:30 p.m. Feb. 6 at Center Street and School House Road.
Police said Robert A. Sekula, 36, of 208 W. Poplar St., was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and exhaust system and noise control violations.
Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Sekula for loud noise and detected a strong odor of burnt marijuana inside.
When asked if he had any illegal drugs, police said, Sekula produced a white plastic bag that contained a metal pipe with burnt marijuana residue and a small plastic container with a green vegetable substance.
When handing over the bag, Sekula told officers that “my pipe and a little bit of weed are in here.”
Man says relative
damaged door
PORT CARBON — A borough man was charged with criminal mischief by Port Carbon police after an incident between 9 and 10 a.m. Feb. 2 at 12 Pike St., rear entrance.
Police said James P. McBreen reported that his brother-in-law, Leo P. Lubinsky, 59, of 596 E. Bacon St., Box 122, tried to enter McBreen’s Pike Street home through the rear door, causing damage to the screen and door lock.
Damage was estimated at $225. Police said McBreen provided officers with surveillance showing Lubinsky committing the crime.
The man will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.
Traffic stop leads
to drug charges
SHEPPTON — A Sheppton man was arrested by East Union Township police on drug charges after a traffic stop about midnight Saturday on South Center Street.
Police said Jayro Miguel Castellanos, 19, of 57 W. Market St., Box 335, was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and general lighting requirements.
Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Castellanos for having a headlight out and found the man acting nervous. Officers asked Castellanos if he had anything illegal, at which time he handed over a condiment container that contained a vegetable substance he said was marijuana, police said.
The charges against Castellanos were filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Whiteout causes
2-vehicle collision
BETHEL — Two people escaped injury when their vehicles collided about 12:20 p.m. Saturday at Pine Grove and Blue Mountain roads in Bethel Township, Lebanon County.
State police at Jonestown said Julia Otis, 47, of Bernardsville, New Jersey, was driving a 2006 Toyota Corolla south on Pine Grove Road, which was snow-covered due to drifting. Police said the snow condition created a whiteout that completely blocked visibility, causing Otis to stop suddenly. At that time, her car was struck from behind by a 2006 Nissan Altima driven by Naresh Sitaraman, 29, of Edison, New Jersey, who was unable to stop to avoid a collision.