TimesLeader.com

September 26
Descriptions of suspects released Police Blotter

WEST PITTSTON – Police need the public’s help identifying two males involved in a strong-arm robbery at Water Street Bridge on Wednesday night.

Suspect 1

Suspect 2

A female told police one of the males held what appeared to be a handgun and demanded money, said West Pittston Police Officer Michael Turner. The robbers took off with $30 cash and jewelry, he said.

Police released computer-generated sketches of both suspects on Thursday. Both suspects were described by the victim as in their early 20s, he said.

One of the males is described as a white male between 5 feet, 10 inches and 6 feet tall, short light brown hair, clean-shaven, heavyset and wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with a black logo on the front, Turner said.

The second suspect is described as black, approximately the same height as the other male, with dark short hair, medium build and wearing a denim jean jacket and jeans, Turner said.

Anyone with information about the robbery or who recognizes the suspects in the sketches is urged to contact West Pittston police at 655-7780 ext. 229 or call 911.

WILKES-BARRE – Police are looking for an armed robber who walked into Quick Food Mart with a knife and demanded money from a clerk around 3 p.m. Thursday.

The suspect, who is described as a white male with dark hair, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and thin build, swung the knife at the clerk and knocked over a display before taking off on foot with a cash drawer, according to Wilkes-Barre police Lt. Steve Olshefski.

No one was injured, he said.

Olshefski said the suspect fled south from the store on North Main and Maple streets and was last seen getting into the passenger side of a green Ford Explorer. Police do not have a description of the driver of the getaway vehicle.

The suspect was captured on video surveillance wearing gray baggy sweatpants, a dark hooded sweatshirt and red sneakers, Olshefski said. Police were still interviewing several store employees late afternoon, he said.

Anyone with information about the robbery is urged to contact Wilkes-Barre police at 826-8106.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

Police received a report regarding an unknown suspect who pumped $56.01 worth of gasoline into a vehicle on North Washington Street and then fled without making payment around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.

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 – A Jenkins Township man was charged Thursday with assaulting police officers and damaging a police cruiser.

Richard John Mickavicz, 21, of Oak Street, was charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, false identification to law enforcement and institutional vandalism. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $10,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police stopped the driver of a vehicle due to a broken turn signal on Price Street at about 1 a.m. Thursday.

A passenger in the vehicle, later identified as Mickavicz, provided police with a different name.

After police learned Mickavicz’ real name, they learned he was wanted on unspecified charges, the criminal complaint says.

Police said in the criminal complaint that Mickavicz fought with officers and removed his hand restraints.

Mickavicz screamed at officers and smashed the rear window on a cruiser with his feet, the criminal complaint says.

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

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.