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Police Blotter

HAZLETON – A man was arrested by state police at Hazleton late Thursday night on charges he stole a purse from a woman.

Michael Andrew Spina, 46, of Upper Railroad Street, Girardville, was charged with robbery, simple assault and terroristic threats, according to police. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Lois Lawrence told police she was in a vehicle with Spina and another woman returning to Hazleton from Shenandoah late Thursday night. Spina asked to be dropped off in Ashland but the driver refused.

Spina became upset and punched Lawrence in the face and took her purse, the criminal complaint says.

Spina got out of the vehicle at Diamond Avenue and Locust Street in Hazleton.

Lawrence told police, according to the criminal complaint, that she had her cell phone and $500 in her purse. Police said they found Spina at a residence on Emerald Court, where they recovered Lawrence’s purse, money and cell phone, the complaint states.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 22 in Central Court.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

• Police said four people were cited with disorderly conduct after causing a disturbance in front of The Mine’s, an underage night club, on North Main Street early Friday morning.

Elisha Ojo, of New York, Corey Knox Jr., of Wilkes-Barre, Crystal Diaz, of Stroudsburg, and Randy Vasquez, no address provided, were charged with disorderly conduct, police said.

• James Lynch, of Kidder Street, reported on Thursday an unknown person damaged his front door at his residence.

• Dennis Bonk, of Ashley, was arrested on evidence of drunken driving after he was found sleeping inside a vehicle that was idling at South Pennsylvania Avenue and East Ross Street at 3:47 a.m. Friday. Police said Bonk was found holding an open beer bottle.

• Christopher Nickelson, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited for harassment after an argument with LaBrittany Townes, at 312 North Empire Court, in the Sherman Hills apartment complex on Thursday.

• Christopher Evans, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited with disorderly conduct after allegedly causing a disturbance in front of Uni Mart, South Pennsylvania Avenue, on Thursday.

• Christopher Bearce, 23, of Larksville, is facing a harassment charge after Vanessa Subarton, of Wilkes-Barre, alleged he pushed her to the ground in the area of 15 Public Square on Thursday.

• James Gronski, of North Sherman Street, reported on Thursday that two male teens attempted to enter his residence, police said. Police said the suspects ran away when confronted by Gronski.

• John Nardone, 47, reported on Thursday that an unknown person cut the accelerator cable on his vehicle when it was parked at Lincoln Plaza, East Northampton Street.

• Jeffrey Davis, of Hanover Township, was cited for public drunkenness at North Washington and East Main Streets at 12:43 a.m. Friday.

• Leo Hennigan, of Moosic, was cited for public drunkenness on North Washington Street at 1:41 a.m. Friday.

• Thomas Leggio, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited for public drunkenness at the Park N’ Lock Central, South Main Street, at 2:37 a.m. Friday.

• Joseph Henshaw, of New Jersey, was cited with public drunkenness on North Washington Street at 2:46 a.m. Friday.

DORRANCE TWP. – State police at Hazleton said they are looking for a vehicle that sped away after an accident on Blythburn Road Friday morning.

Anthony Rayoski, of Mountain Top, told police he was traveling north on Blythburn Road when an oncoming vehicle struck him at about 6:35 a.m., according to police. The vehicle that struck Rayoski’s vehicle sped away, police said.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Hazleton barracks at 459-3890.

BEAR CREEK TWP. – Joseph Pradel, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, was arrested on evidence of drunken driving after a traffic stop on state Route 115 on Thursday, state police at Wyoming said.

Pradel was stopped at about 11:20 p.m. for driving a vehicle in a reckless manner, police said.

After he was stopped, Pradel showed signs of intoxication, according to police. He was transported to Luzerne County DUI Processing Center for a breath test, police said.

Appropriate charges will be filed at the office of District Judge Michael Dotzel in Wilkes-Barre Township, police said.