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Police Blotter

SUGARLOAF TWP. – Police arrested a Hazleton man who allegedly stole several cartons of cigarettes at a Turkey Hill store on Tuesday.

James J. Yurkanin, 31, of 227 W. Broad St., was arraigned Thursday morning on a charge of retail theft, according to court records. He was released on recognizance. A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for March 3 at Central Court.

Township police alleged Yurkanin was observed as one of two men on surveillance video taking the cartons from a back storage room of the convenience store on Airport Beltway around 6:30 p.m., arrest papers state.

Yurkanin confessed to police he stole the cartons to pay for a drug habit, police said.

Court records show Yurkanin was previously charged with retail theft for allegedly taking five cartons of cigarettes from behind a register at Boyer’s Food Market in Hazleton on Jan. 15.

WILKES-BARRE – A city man was arrested for allegedly attempting to force entry into his ex-girlfriend’s home with a fully loaded semi-automatic pistol on Thursday night.

Angel Osorio-Rios, 27, of 29 Barney St., Apt. 3, was arraigned Friday morning on charges of criminal trespass, stalking, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment, according to court records. He is jailed on $10,000 straight bail.

Osorio-Rios is accused of trying to enter the back door of the 32-year-old woman’s home at 19 Nicholson St. around 9:45 p.m., the criminal complaint states.

A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for March 9 at Central Court.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

Citations will be filed against Robert J. Drevenak of Hanover Township who struck two parked vehicles with his vehicle – sending one of the vehicles into the porch of a residence – on South Main Street just after midnight Thursday.

Both of the parked vehicles sustained major damage and had to be towed by LAG, according to police. Drevenak suffered from minor injuries as a result of the crash, police said.

Power tools were reported stolen from the hardware store, Home Depot, 41 Spring St., on Thursday afternoon.

Grotto Pizza at Wyoming Valley Mall reported delivering to Jennifer Randolph, 30, of 390 S. Grant St., Apt. 12, who allegedly did not pay, on Wednesday night, police said. It was not immediately known if charges were filed.

A building owned by McCarthy Tire Service on Kidder Street had graffiti sprayed on Wednesday afternoon.

Helen Levan, 65, reported a window to her residence was shattered on East Northampton Street around 3 p.m. Thursday.

Yusuf Wright, 29, of South Grant Street, is accused of restraining 18-year-old Alissa Conahan, of Pittston Boulevard, by grabbing her in a vehicle while driving on the Market Street Bridge on Thursday.

Mary Heaney, 48, of Plains Township, reported she was followed and cursed at by two males, known to her, 18 and 19, on East Main Street on Thursday night.

KINGSTON – Police arrested a man on possession charges after officers found various pills and suspected marijuana on him during a traffic stop early Thursday morning.

Ronald P. Hunsinger III, 18, of Laceyville, was arraigned on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to court records. He posted $2,000 bail.

A second person was also taken into custody, the criminal complaint states.

Police observed a strong odor emitting inside of the vehicle and located a marijuana joint in plain view in an ashtray inside of the vehicle during the traffic stop on Wyoming Avenue around 2 a.m., arrest papers state.

Hunsinger admitted the burnt joint belonged to him, according to the complaint. Officers found more marijuana in his body cavity, the complaint states.

A preliminary hearing has been tentatively scheduled for March 5 at Central Court.

PLYMOUTH – Police said an unknown person smashed a window on Jeffrey Montross’ vehicle and removed a duffle bag with various clothes and shoes sometime between 7:30 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. Thursday.

Anyone with information about the theft/criminal mischief is asked to contact state police at Wyoming at 697-2000.