TimesLeader.com

January 10, 2009

Police Blotter

CONYNGHAM TWP. – Afternoon flames claimed the lives of a mother and daughter at a home in Columbia County on Friday, police said.

Gloria Jean Brassington, 52, and her mother, Minnie Alice Brassington, 84, died in the blaze that broke out around 12:40 p.m. at 440 Main St. in Wilburton, according to state police at Bloomsburg.

Fire engulfed the kitchen and the lower level and trapped the two inside, police said.

A preliminary investigation revealed fire originated near the stove in the kitchen area, according to police. The blaze appears to be accidental, police said.

State police investigators are continuing to investigate the cause of the fire, police said.

HAZLETON – A city woman faces charges for allegedly assaulting her boyfriend early Friday morning.

Nicole L. Naprava, 28, of 151 Berner Ave., was arraigned on charges of simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct, according to court records. She is jailed at Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $50,000 straight bail.

According to an affidavit:

Hazleton police responded around 2 a.m. for a report of a man that had been assaulted by a woman with a knife at 151 Berner Ave., police said.

Police could see a large amount of blood on the kitchen floor along with a large kitchen knife.

There was also white rice on the floor.

Eric Fetchko told police he had just come home with his girlfriend and when they got inside of their home Naprava got on her cell phone with an ex-boyfriend, police said. The couple began arguing.

During the fight, Naprava allegedly became irate and grabbed a kitchen knife, police said. Fetchko grabbed her arm to stop the attack.

Naprava then took a pot from the stove that was filled with rice and threw it at Fetchko, which caused his nose to bleed, police said.

Fetchko then called 911. His girlfriend fled on foot.

Police found Naprava at her ex-boyfriend’s place after following footprints from the couple’s home to another residence, police said.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 15 at Central Court.

NANTICOKE – A man was charged Wednesday on allegations he passed a fraudulent prescription at a pharmacy in October, police said.

Edward G. Bath III, 25, of 57 Old Newport St., Nanticoke, was arraigned Friday on a felony charge of criminal attempt, according to court records. He is jailed for lack of producing $5,000 straight bail.

Bath is accused of fraudulently obtaining 60 tablets of Vicodin ES by portraying to be a doctor and faxing in a prescription to Weiss Pharmacy in Nanticoke, police said.

According to an affidavit:

On Oct. 20, authorities went to Aspen Dental Office in Wilkes-Barre Township and spoke to an office manager who alleged Bath had passed a fraudulent prescription.

Authorities received a copy of the prescription receipt at the Weiss Pharmacy on Oct. 22.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 15 at Central Court.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

A 28-year-old woman was cited on Thursday for harassment after police say she allegedly mailed degrading letters to Alexis Peterson, 34, of Wilkes-Barre.

Someone removed Matthew Libby’s Access card from his wallet at 217 N. Sherman St. around 5 p.m. Thursday, police said.

Police said someone sprayed black paint on the building of My Brother’s Place, 221 N. Sherman St., which occurred sometime overnight Thursday.

JEFFERSON TWP. – A Lake Ariel man died Thursday afternoon in a two-vehicle crash on state Route 247 in Lackawanna County.

Linus Marchegiani, 52, who died in the crash, was traveling north on the two-lane road when he lost control of his Chevy S10 pickup truck, crossed the double yellow line and struck a Chevy 3500 truck traveling south, state police at Dunmore said.

The other driver, Angelo Reich, 55, of Roaring Brook, who suffered from minor injuries, was taken to Community Medical Center in Scranton for treatment, police said.

Police said the crash is still under investigation.

THORNHURST TWP. – A woman is accused of reckless endangerment after state police say she pointed a shotgun at her husband and threatened she would kill him.

Susan E. Shirley, of 200 Sharon Lane, is charged with terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment, according to state police at Dunmore.

She is jailed at Lackawanna County Prison on $20,000 bail.

Her husband, Peter C. Shirley, reported on Wednesday his spouse allegedly pointed a shotgun at him while he was outside of their home at Thornhurst Country Club Estates and telling him she would kill him, police said.

Police found Shirley, who was allegedly intoxicated, outside the home, police said. The gun was found inside the house and not loaded.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 13 at Central Court in Scranton.