News

October 29, 2009

Two are charged with kidnapping, theft

Police say men pulled store security officer into car after stealing seafood and meat.

Times Leader staff

EDWARDSVILLE – Two men are charged with kidnapping a store security officer who attempted to stop them from stealing seafood and meat on Tuesday.

Matthew J. DiFebo, 31, of Tobin Lane, Edwardsville, and Todd Junevitz, 31, of Bradley Street, Plymouth, were charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, reckless endangerment, retail theft, resisting arrest and criminal conspiracy. DiFebo also was charged with driving with a suspended license.

They were arraigned by District Judge Gerald Feissner in Freeland and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $50,000 bail each.

According to the criminal complaints:

Redners Warehouse Market security officer Mark Reilly told police that two men stole baskets of seafood and meat from the store on Wyoming Avenue at about 3:35 p.m. Tuesday.

Reilly said he followed the men outside, grabbed the basket and was pulled into a vehicle. The security officer told police that he asked the two men to stop and they did, near Valenti’s junkyard, which is across Wyoming Avenue from the store.

Junevitz jumped out of the vehicle and was found hiding under a car in the junkyard. DiFebo was captured in the Redners parking lot.

Police said the value of the seafood and meat the two men allegedly attempted to steal was $450.

DiFebo and Junevitz told police, the criminal complaints say, that they stole the seafood and meat to support drug addictions.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled on Nov. 4 before District Judge Paul J. Roberts in Kingston.

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