Crime & Courts

March 16, 2010

Police Blotter

KINGSTON – Police Chief Keith Keiper said there were 15 to 20 complaints Sunday from people claiming they received an automated phone call from a bank advising that there has been fraudulent activity on their accounts.

Keiper said the calls are automated and appear to originate in other states. Calls are made at all hours of the day and night, and are not targeted to any particular bank, Keiper said.

Keiper said anyone receiving an automated call from a bank should immediately hang up.

The automated message says that there has been fraudulent activity on accounts and requests cardholders to enter their 16-digit debit card number on the phone’s keypad.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

• Police said Stephen Leonard, of Nuangola, and Adam Makarewicz, of Mountain Top, were cited with harassment after a 12-year-old girl claimed they handcuffed her at 115 Loomis St. on Saturday.

• Police said Abihy Blackwood, of Hutson Street, Wilkes-Barre, was charged with criminal trespass after he was found walking near building 308 Sherman Hills apartment complex on Wednesday. Blackwood said he was visiting a friend, whom he did not know, police said.

• Police said they arrested Brian J. Johns, 18, of Almond Lane, Wilkes-Barre, on evidence of drunken-driving during a traffic stop at Hughes and Wall streets early Monday morning. Police allege Johns was intoxicated.

• Iliana Such, of Wilkes-Barre, reported her red leather Kooba purse was missing from Rodano’s Restaurant, Public Square, on Sunday.

• An intoxicated male threatened employees at the Turkey Hill Minit Market, 1037 N. Washington St., during a food purchase on Sunday.

• Police said Jeannette Elms, 43, of Barney Street, Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness when she was found passed out on Wilkes-Barre Boulevard under the North Cross Valley Expressway at 10:41 p.m. Sunday.

• Police said Melvin Moses, 20, of Sambourne Street, Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness after he allegedly urinated on an ice machine Monday outside A&G Express on Academy Street.

• Police said Mark Gindlesperger, 25, of Johnston, was cited with public drunkenness when he was found intoxicated Sunday in the area of Jackson and North Main streets.

• Police said Cheryl Evangelista, 48, of Spring Street, Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness after she was found intoxicated Monday in the rear of 121 Scott St.

• Michael John Rusinko, 19, of North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, was charged Sunday with defiant trespass when he entered Barnes & Noble Bookstore, South Main Street, on Nov. 7. Police said Rusinko was not permitted in the business after being told by management to leave, according to the criminal complaint.

Rusinko was jailed at the county prison for lack of $500 bail. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on March 25 in Wilkes-Barre Central Court.

Michelle Davis of Hanover Township reported Wednesday that she left her purse on a checkout counter after grocery shopping at Schiel’s Family Market, 30 Hanover St., police said. When she finished loading the groceries into her car, she realized she forgot her purse.

Davis told police that when she went back inside the store the purse was missing, police said.

It was later discovered a white female with a medium build, blonde hair, black shorts and a T-shirt had taken the purse, which contained a driver’s license, Social Security card, credit cards, jewelry, medication and hockey tickets.

SUGARLOAF TWP. – State police at Hazleton are investigating a two-vehicle crash on Route 93 around 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

Kathleen A. Gallagher, 67, of West Hazleton, driver of a 2009 Cobalt, was southbound when a 1997 Century pulled out of a parking lot in front of the Cobalt, police said in a news release.

The driver of the other vehicle, Jacob R. Brestowski, 73, of Drums, was cited for “vehicles entering or crossing roadways,” police said.

There were no injuries, police said.

LARKSVILLE – A man was charged Sunday on allegations he assaulted a man.

Mark Kotulski, 42, of Larkin Street, Larksville, was charged with two counts of disorderly conduct, and one count each of simple assault, harassment and resisting arrest. He was jailed at the county prison for lack of $1,000 bail.

Andrew Walko said Kotulski punched him several times and damaged items in a house on Larkin Street on Sunday, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on March 18 before District Judge David Barilla in Swoyersville.

BUCK TWP. – State police at Wyoming charged a man Monday on allegations he sold an all-terrain vehicle knowing it was stolen.

Joseph Thomas New, 19, of Buck Birch Lane, White Haven, was charged with receiving stolen property. He was jailed at the county prison for lack of $5,000 bail.

State police allege New arranged to sell an ATV that was stolen from a shed behind a Plains Township home in September, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on March 24 before District Judge Michael Dotzel in Wilkes-Barre Township.

FORTY FORT – Police charged a woman allegations she stole granola bars from Turkey Hill, Wyoming Avenue.

Robina Anne Guerrero, 39, of Hughes Street, Swoyersville, was charged with retail theft. She was released without bail.

FRANKLIN TWP. – Mark McCrossen, 26, of Dallas, was not injured when his vehicle struck a guide rail on West Eighth Street at about 10:50 p.m. Sunday, state police at Wyoming said.

McCrossen claimed he swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

LUZERNE – Swoyersville police arrested James O’Boyle, 51, of Plains Township, on evidence of drunken driving after he was allegedly found slumped over in a vehicle that was blocking Walnut and Sly streets around 7:07 p.m. Sunday.

O’Boyle was transported to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital where he refused to submit to a blood alcohol test, police said.

HANOVER TWP. – Wadia Al’Daoud, owner of Star Service Station, South Main Street, reported four 16-inch wheels were stolen from a Jeep Cherokee, and a rear hatch door was stolen from another Jeep Cherokee late Sunday night or early Monday morning, township police said.

PLAINS TWP. – State police gaming enforcement office charged two people for causing a disturbance in the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino on Sunday.

Geoffrey Michael Hogan, 28, of Plymouth, and April Griffin, 21, of Luzerne, were arguing on the casino floor that escalated in the two kicking and shoving one another at about 4:50 a.m., state police said.

State police said Hogan followed Griffin up an escalator and pushed her down onto the steps as it neared the top.

Hogan and Griffin are charged with harassment and disorderly conduct, state police said.

PLAINS TWP. – State police gaming enforcement office said an elderly woman stole $100 worth of credit from a slot machine at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino at about 8:28 p.m. Sunday.

The woman printed a voucher that she cashed before leaving the casino, state police said.

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