Crime & Courts

July 24, 2008

Police Blotter

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

Luzerne County Children and Youth Services reported to police on Tuesday a possible sexual relationship between a 15-year-old female from Wilkes-Barre and a 37-year-old male suspect on Orchard Street. The investigation is continuing, according to police. No charges have been filed.

Alan Wasielewski, of Wilkes-Barre, reported someone damaged his pool at 146 Sambourne St. at 6:11 p.m. Tuesday.

Gina Stefeneski, of Star Route, Thornhurst, reported someone smashed a window on her 2008 Mazda at North River and Auburn streets at 6:58 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Steven Taren, of Wilkes-Barre, reported someone removed cash from his van at 81 Waller St. at 8:38 a.m. Tuesday, police said.

Officers encountered 48-year-old Ellen Cupps who police say was under the influence of alcohol to the degree she was a danger to herself and others at Scott Street and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard at 2:58 p.m. Tuesday. Cupps, of Pine Street, Wilkes-Barre, was placed under arrest and cited with public drunkenness, police said.

Allison Lininger, of Wilkes-Barre, reported someone removed two tires from her 1991 Ford at 135 Holland St. at 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

LARKSVILLE – There has been a rash of vehicle break-ins within the borough, primarily in the Howard Street area, according to a news release from assistant police Chief Stephen Kofchak.

Numerous vehicles have been entered and money, wallets and various items were taken, Kofchak said. Police remind residents to keep their vehicles locked and to remove all valuables.

Anyone hearing or seeing anything unusual is asked to immediately call 911.

NANTICOKE – A man was charged Wednesday after he allegedly assaulted his live-in girlfriend because he locked himself out of their residence, police said.

William James Cupp, 50, of West Green Street, Nanticoke, was charged with simple assault, criminal mischief and harassment. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Loretta Fenner, 48, told police she arrived home and found Cupp passed out on their front porch Tuesday night. Cupp told Fenner he was upset because he locked himself out of their residence, and struck her in the face.

Fenner drove Cupp to the police department where he assaulted her again and damaged her vehicle, the criminal complaint says.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 31 in Central Court.

KINGSTON – A man was charged Wednesday after police said they observed him selling marijuana to a woman in a motel parking lot on Wyoming Avenue.

Jamal S. Williams, 24, of Main Street, was charged with two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and corruption of minors. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police observed a woman purchase marijuana from a man, later identified as Williams, in the parking lot of Budget Inn on Wyoming Avenue at about 1 a.m. Wednesday. The woman returned to a vehicle that sped away when police pulled into the parking lot.

Williams admitted to police that he sold marijuana to the woman.

An officer pursued the vehicle that was abandoned on Pringle Street. The driver ran away and eluded police. Two female juveniles in the vehicle were detained by police, the criminal complaint says.

Police said Williams was staying at the motel with a woman who wasn’t charged. A large amount of marijuana was found in the motel room, police said in the criminal complaint.

Williams and the juveniles from the vehicle were taken to the Kingston Police Department. Police learned that one of the juveniles was hiding a bag of marijuana in her underwear, the criminal complaint says.

Williams is tentatively scheduled for a preliminary hearing for July 31 in Central Court.

WILKES-BARRE – police reported the following:

• Ashanti Canales, 19, address not provided, faces a disorderly conduct charge after, police said, she refused to leave during a traffic stop in front of Building 332, Sherman Hills, on Tuesday.

• Jack Covert II reported two motorcycles and tattoo equipment were stolen during a burglary at Flaming Star Tattoo, 86 S. Main St., on Monday, police said.

• Jerwaine Gorman, of Park Avenue, reported someone damaged a door at his residence on Monday.

• Lisa Patterson, of Academy Street, reported a video-game system, wireless controllers, video games and shirts were stolen during a burglary at her residence on Monday, police said.

• Cassandra Alexander, of East Market Street, reported she received a phone call from an unknown male who claimed to be a Wilkes-Barre police officer. Alexander said the caller threatened to arrest her. Police said the phone call was not made by police.

• Police said an unknown person failed to pay for $70.70 in gasoline at Turkey Hill, North Washington Street, at 7:08 p.m. on Monday.

BUTLER TWP. – Township police reported the following:

• Police said an unknown person threw a rock that damaged a windshield on a passing vehicle on South Old Turnpike Road Sunday night.

• Police are investigating a burglary at a home on Charlwood Drive that was discovered on July 16. The residence was ransacked, police said.

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