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September 26
Back Mountain police blotter: Sept. 26

KINGSTON TWP. – A Wilkes-Barre man was charged Thursday with stealing $1,200 from the Checkerboard Inn, Carverton Road, and resisting arrest, township police said.

James Keethe, 49, of South River Street, was charged with theft, resisting arrest and false identification to law enforcement. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Keethe stole a bag containing money from the tavern on Wednesday. Keethe attempted to hide when police encountered him walking on Carverton Road, the criminal complaint says.

Police said Keethe provided misleading information when he was processed.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2 in Central Court.

KINGSTON TWP. – Township police are investigating an attempted break-in at a residence on Bunker Hill Road on Thursday.

Chief James Balavage said an alarm was activated when someone forced open a door at the home at about 11:20 a.m. No items were reported missing, Balavage said.

HARVEYS LAKE - Two men were charged Thursday morning after police said they attempted to steal approximately 500 pounds of copper pipes from property owned by UGI Utility, police said.

Erik Bruno, of Mount Lookout, Exeter, and Ryan Bush, 24, of West Pittston, were charged with criminal mischief, defiant trespass, receiving stolen property, theft and criminal conspiracy. They were jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail each.

According to the criminal complaints filed by Harveys Lake police:

Police approached a woman who was sitting inside a truck parked on Ridge Avenue just before 11 p.m. Wednesday. The woman told police the truck was disabled and she was waiting for her boyfriend and his friend.

While speaking with the woman, police noticed two men, identified as Bruno and Bush, walking away from the truck.

Bruno and Rush disappeared in woods but were stopped by police on Old Lake Road. While speaking with the men, police noticed a fence to property owned by UGI Utility and used by Asphludh, Inc., was cut and a pile of copper pipe near the fence, the criminal complaint says.

Police said in the criminal complaint that Bruno and Rush admitted they went to the property to steal copper pipe from a dumpster to get money for heroin.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled for Oct. 2 in Central Court.