TimesLeader.com

October 11, 2008

Berwick man charged with sexual assault Police Blotter

SALEM TWP. – A 43-year old Berwick man was charged by township police on Friday on allegations he sexually assaulted a teen girl in September.

Francisco Ayala, of East Third Street, was charged with involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with minor, statutory sexual assault, indecent assault and corruption of minors. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $50,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

A teen girl told township police that she engaged in sexual relations with Ayala several times from Sept. 2 to Sept. 30. Ayala picked the girl up at a school bus stop, or picked her up after school, taking her to his residence where, police say, he assaulted her, the criminal complaint says.

A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 16 in Central Court.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

A city man reported that he was robbed at gunpoint at his residence on Poplar Street late Thursday night, Wilkes-Barre police said.

Police said James Dunbar claimed two men aimed a shotgun at him when he opened his front door at about 11:48 p.m. The two men entered his residence and rummaged through his belongings before leaving with a video game system and a laptop computer, police said.

Police described the suspects as white males.

Christopher Rodney Washington, 46, was charged Friday morning with a single count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

Police said Washington was found with 258 packets of heroin on Public Square at about 4:25 p.m. Thursday, according to arrest records.

Washington was charged by city police on Sept. 20 when he was found, arrest records say, with 150 packets of heroin while he was on Public Square.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 16 in Central Court.

Police said a Turkey Hill clerk reported she was standing by the gas pumps when she saw a white male wearing a black hooded sweatshirt with a green backpack enter the store at 1037 N. Washington Ave. and walk behind the counter at 2:03 a.m. Wednesday.

The store clerk ran across the street to Inter Metro to have someone call 911, police said. Officers could not locate the suspect.

Officers reviewed camera footage for more information on the suspect. Police said the male wearing white gloves walked behind the counter and began rummaging through cabinets.

Police said the suspect found a bag with $368 cash, which he took and then ran out of the store.

A Wilkes-Barre man was taken to a local hospital for injuries after a three-vehicle crash on North Pennsylvania Avenue and Union Street around 5 p.m. Thursday, police said.

Max Hall, who was driving a 2004 Lincoln Navigator, stopped at the traffic light at the intersection and was struck in the rear by a 2001 Ford minivan driven by Leonard Martin, of Wilkes-Barre, police said.

The Ford was stopped behind the Lincoln when it was struck by a Plymouth Breeze driven by Minerva Amigon, of Wilkes-Barre, police said.

Amigon’s Plymouth rear-ended the Ford, which caused it to rear end the Lincoln.

Hall was taken by ambulance to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. No other injuries were reported, police said.

The Ford and Plymouth was towed but the Lincoln was drivable, police said.

A female, whose name was not released, reported she was verbally harassed by a person known to her on South Meade Street just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, police said. She did not wish further action to be taken and no charges were filed.

Bradford Jones, 44, reported someone entered his home on Hazle Street and stole approximately $50 worth of food on Oct. 5, police said.

Police allege Lisa Shiffka, 40, stole a Nintendo DS and Guitar Hero from Kim Maskowski at 280 Hanover St. on Wednesday.

Shiffka then allegedly sold the stolen items to a game station store on Lee Park Avenue in Hanover Township, police said. The items were returned to Maskowski.

Charges will be filed against Shiffka for receiving stolen property, police said.

Shapel Jones alleged her ex-boyfriend, Richard Johnson, 34, slapped her in the face after an argument at 292 Coal St. on Wednesday, police said. Johnson will be cited for harassment.

Police said Darrell Leftenant reported he was struck in his head from behind by a black male suspect at the Turkey Hill parking lot on Carey Avenue around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday. He alleged the suspect brandished a knife and took his cell phone, police said.

Police said they charged John B. Thompson, 27, of Plains Township, with possession of marijuana after officers found him in possession of a small amount of the drug at 180 N. Wilkes-Barre Boulevard just before 2 a.m. Thursday.

Lori Aldrich reported a DVD player was stolen after someone smashed a window on her car when it was parked in a parking lot near St. Nicholas Church on South Washington Street on Thursday, police said.

Margaret Wilde reported a cell phone was stolen after someone smashed a window on her car when it was parked on Bennett Street on Thursday, police said.

Mary Ciecierski reported copper pipe was stolen during a burglary at a home on Monroe Street on Wednesday, police said.

• Nicole Gallamo reported that someone left the air out of her tires on her vehicle when it was parked in Park and Lock Central, South Main Street, on Friday.

HAZLE TWP. – State police at Hazleton said charges may be filed against a 63-year old Butler Township man after a two vehicle crash at state Route 309 and 28th Street on Thursday.

Police said John Kolensky, driving a Chevrolet Blazer, was traveling north on Route 309 and failed to stop at a red traffic signal, colliding into a 2006 Nissan driven by Erika M. Flores, 20, of East Stroudsburg.

Flores was traveling west on 28th Street and had a green traffic signal, police said.

Police said Kolensky exhibited signs of intoxication and was taken to Hazleton General Hospital for a blood alcohol test.

Flores and two passengers in her vehicle, Asia Cornick, 20, of Hazleton, and Lucy Dakwar, 18, of Hazleton, were taken to Hazleton General Hospital for moderate injuries, police said.