Crime & Courts

November 24, 2009

Cops: Man charged after teen held hostage Police Blotter

BUTLER TWP. – Township police said they recovered what they believe to be stolen merchandise from a house where a man allegedly held a teen girl hostage on Sunday.

Wilfred Charles, of South Hunter Highway, was charged with false imprisonment, indecent assault, simple assault and terroristic threats, police said.

Police said Charles was found in his house on Sunday after a 17-year old girl said he would not let her leave. The girl told police, according to a news release, that Charles picked her up in Hazleton on the pretense of giving her a ride home. After getting into his vehicle, the girl said, Charles drove to his residence where he said her friends were waiting for her.

When the girl entered his residence, she realized she was alone and asked to be taken home. Charles grabbed the victim and attempted to remove her clothes, police said.

Police said Charles grabbed the girl around her throat and threatened to harm her if she got mad at him. She escaped when Charles fell asleep, police said.

Police said they obtained a search warrant for the house Sunday night. When Charles refused to open the door, police forced open the door and found Charles running toward a bathroom, where a 40-caliber handgun was found, police said.

Police said they found ammunition, 10 cell phones, more than 7 grams of crack, prescription medications and marijuana in the house, including items that are believed to be stolen.

Police said a large amount of foreign antique currency, silver dollars and a Liberty Brass Stamp were found in Charles’ house.

NANTICOKE – A Shickshinny man was arraigned Sunday on charges he entered his ex-girlfriend’s residence and fought with her friend in August.

Police charged Robert James Bucheister, 26, of McClintock Street, with two counts of burglary and one count each of criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and harassment. He was arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston and jailed at the county prison for lack of $25,000 bail.

Police allege that Bucheister entered the West Church Street residence of Melissa Newton and yelled obscenities at her and Peter Kolacz on Aug. 30. Kolacz told Bucheister to leave in which he refused.

Bucheister charged at Kolacz, starting a fight, according to the criminal complaint. Bucheister left the residence when Newton told him that she had called police.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on Dec. 1 before District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke.

WILKES-BARRE – A man was arrested Saturday on evidence of drunken driving.

Police charged Jason Paul Bell, 25, of Blackman Street, Wilkes-Barre, with two counts of driving under the influence, and one count each of driving with a suspended license, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving without insurance. He was arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston and jailed at the county prison for lack of $5,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police were investigating a domestic dispute at a house on Blackman Street early Sunday morning and encountered Bell, who appeared to be intoxicated.

Police left the house and later saw Bell in a vehicle on Blackman Street. The vehicle stopped and Bell got behind the wheel and drove until he stopped in a no parking zone on Parrish Street. Police said Bell got out of the vehicle and walked away.

Police said Bell admitted he consumed six beers before driving the vehicle.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on Dec. 1 in Wilkes-Barre Central Court.

PLAINS TWP. – Township police arrested a Chester County man on charges he assaulted a man at the Woodlands Inn & Resort early Sunday morning.

Steven Robert Bliss, 24, of Phoenixville, was charged with three counts of disorderly conduct, two counts of harassment and one count each of simple assault, resisting arrest and public drunkenness. He was arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $7,500 bail.

Police said in the criminal complaint that Bliss struck Thomas John Hoover III in a hallway at about 12:50 a.m. Sunday. Hoover was treated at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Facility in Plains Township.

Bliss told police he struck Hoover after a man assaulted his friend, the criminal complaint says.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on Dec. 1 before District Judge Diana Malast in Plains Township.

PLYMOUTH – A man was arrested Sunday after a woman said he sexually assaulted her.

Police said Michael Patrick Leahy, 43, of East Walnut Street, Plymouth, was charged with two counts of indecent assault. He was arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $10,000 bail.

A woman claimed she was sleeping on a couch when Leahy assaulted her at about 3:15 a.m. Sunday, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on Dec. 1 before District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke.

WEST PITTSTON – Police arraigned a Berwick man Sunday for his alleged role in a break-in.

Nicholas Pugliese Jr., 21, of Mulberry Street, was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal conspiracy to commit trespass. He was arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police allege Pugliese and others were in a residence on Foundry Street, West Pittston, Saturday night and talked about burglarizing a neighbor’s home. Pugliese was given a knife and was instructed to stand in front of the neighbor’s home acting as a look-out.

Pugliese ran away from police and hid a knife under propane tanks near the Goodwill Hose Company, the criminal complaint says.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on Dec. 2 before District Judge Joseph Carmody in West Pittston.

DORRANCE TWP. – State police at Hazleton said eight tombstones were found toppled at the Emmanuel Cemetery, Blue Ridge Trail, on Monday. Anyone with information about the vandalism is asked to contact state police at Hazleton at 459-3890.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

• Police said Joseph Flippini, 26, of North Washington Street, was cited with disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling obscenities at officers assistant paramedics in the area of 52 S. Main St. at 3 a.m. Sunday.

• Police said Jonna Elizabeth Pollick, of South River Street, was cited for public drunkenness when she was allegedly found intoxicated in the area of 575 N. River St. at 6 a.m. Monday.

PLAINS TWP. – Plains Township Crime Watch will meet 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Fox Hill Firehouse No. 2, Second Street.

Everyone is invited and refreshments will be served. Guest speaker will be Luzerne County Coroner John Corcoran.

HANOVER TWP. – Township police said they captured a man wanted in Perry County early Monday morning.

Police said Joshua O. Tonkin, 21, of Wilkes-Barre, was found in the 1000 block of Sively Street while investigating a suspicious person. A records check allegedly revealed Tonkin was wanted in Perry County on a parole violation, police said.

Tonkin was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

Tweet	Follow @TLnews