TimesLeader.com

March 24

Police Blotter

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

• Police said a man claiming to be a law enforcement officer told a group of juveniles to leave the area of Division and Barney streets at 5:53 p.m. Sunday. The man is described as a white male, 18 to 20 years old, approximately 6 feet tall, thin build, black hair, blue eyes and wore a black jumpsuit, police said.

• William Tattersall, of North Pennsylvania Avenue, reported he was struck in the head by a person known to him on North Pennsylvania Avenue on Sunday, police said.

• James Jackson, of Wilkes-Barre, and Tim Muchler, of Plains Township, reported a juvenile threatened them at North Main and Union streets at 8:45 p.m. Saturday, police said.

• Police said Kenneth McCloud, 50, of Madison Street, faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop on South Main Street Sunday morning.

• Police said Adam Stratchko, 21, of Nesquehoning, was cited with disorderly conduct after he was observed urinating in the Park and Lock Central garage, South Main Street, at 2:28 a.m. Sunday.

• Kattie English, of Hutson Street, reported Saturday that her roommate’s video game system was stolen from their residence, police said.

• Sandy Mullen reported Saturday someone spray-painted graffiti on her vehicle while it was parked in the area of 291 N. Washington St., police said.

• Police said Ruben Harrison, of South Welles Street, was cited with open lewdness for urinating in the area of 395 S. Main St. at 5:57 p.m. Saturday.

• Police said someone lit leaves on fire in the area of 266 Coal St. at 7 p.m. Saturday.

• Roland Parham, of North Washington Street, reported Saturday someone damaged his vehicle while it was parked in the area of 1384 N. Washington St., police said.

• Police said Jared Swire, of North River Street, faces a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia after he allegedly was found with a pipe at North Main and Union streets at 11:57 a.m. Saturday.

• Robert Stajewski, of Oliver Street, reported someone damaged his vehicle while it was parked in the area of 84 Oliver St. on Saturday, police said.

• Michael Harkin reported several people assaulted him and stole several items on Lehigh Street at 12:41 a.m. Saturday, police said.

• George Levandowski reported items were stolen from his vehicle while it was parked on Stanton Street on Saturday, police said.

• Elizabeth Farger, of Palmerton, reported Friday that a door at 395 N. Pennsylvania Ave. was damaged, police said.

•Members of the city’s Crime Watch Coalition found graffiti spray painted on concrete pillars of a bridge at North Washington Street and Biscontini Road at about 1:20 a.m. Sunday, police said.

Police said the word “CERP” and the dollar sign were spray painted in black on the pillars.

•Stephen Perillo, of High Street, reported on Monday someone punctured a tire on his vehicle while it was parked in the area of 246 High St., police said.

•Police said a counterfeit $10 bill was found at the Turkey Hill Minit Market, Hazle Avenue, on Monday.

• Police said Eric Montijo, 45, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness after an incident at East Market and North Washington streets, at 11:28 p.m. Saturday.

• Police said Aaron Shiffka, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness and underage consumption of alcohol after an incident at 120 S. Sherman St., at 1:34 a.m. Sunday.

• Police said Edward R. Button, 22, of Mountain Top, and Paul J. Hosage, 22, of Wapwallopen, were cited with public drunkenness after an incident in the area of 52 S. Main St., at 1:16 a.m. Sunday.

• Police said Jesus Vergara, 28, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness after an incident at 155 Reese St., at 3:42 a.m. Sunday.

WILKES-BARRE – A registered sex offender was charged on Monday after police said he allegedly threatened the director at a homeless shelter.

Ronald Harold Kocher, 40, last known address as 10 Carey Ave., Wilkes-Barre, was charged with failing to comply with registration of sexual offenders under the state’s Megan’s Law, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Vince Kabacinski, director at V.I.S.I.O.N.S., told police on Sunday that Kocher had been attempting to stay at the shelter, but due to Kocher’s registration requirements as a sex offender, the shelter was unable to assist him.

Kocher threatened Kabacinski and damaged a wall at the shelter’s office on Davis Place, the criminal complaint says.

According to the state police Megan’s Law Web site, Kocher was convicted of rape in February 1996.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on April 1 in Central Court.

PLAINS TWP. – Two people were cited on Monday with disorderly conduct after an alleged altercation with a security officer at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino, state police gaming enforcement office said.

Police said Tristan A. Somes, 25, and Lindsey M. Yarashus, 23, both from Wilkes-Barre, were disorderly inside the casino from 1:15 a.m. to 2:30 a.m. on March 6. Somes and Yarashus threatened security officer James Clayton Benczkowski, police said.

Police said Somes was cited with disorderly conduct and harassment. Yarashus was cited with disorderly conduct.