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Police Blotter

PLAINS TWP. – Mark Douglas Forman, 56, no known address, was charged with theft after he allegedly went behind the center bar of the casino at Mohegan Sun Pocono Downs at about 5:15 a.m. Sunday and was observed by security taking a bottle of DiSaronno liquor and then attempting to leave the casino, state police in Wyoming said.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following incidents:

Eight men are facing charges for allegedly patronizing prostitutes in connection with an undercover sting between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. Friday.

City police and the Special Investigation Division, C.O.B.R.A. Unit, of the Luzerne County Sheriff’s Office held the joint undercover “John” sting operation in the South Main Street area, police said.

Arrested, police said, were: Anthony Hinson, 48, Miguel Valencia, 28, Michael Hausknecht, 28, Michael Yugovsky, 59, Mark Harrison, 21, Hrhprince Hayshaimai, 37, all from Wilkes-Barre; Leonard Knauss, 81, of Rome; and Frank Hullihen, 68, of Edwardsville.

Also during the operation, police said they arrested a wanted woman, Theresa Manning, who was taken into custody on a felony escape charge from the county jail.

Deanna Dovidio, of Beechwood Road, Pocono Lake, reported around 9 a.m. Saturday someone smashed a window on her 2001 Honda while it was parked at 74 N. Franklin St.

• Police were dispatched at 1:15 p.m. Sunday for a report of a vehicle that struck a tree and was on fire on South Pennsylvania Avenue, north of Dana Street. When police arrived, they found the vehicle’s occupants – driver Henry Frund and passenger Christine Frund, both of 11 Weir St., Wilkes-Barre – being treated by medics.

The Frunds were transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for treatment.

• John Wasnick, of Waller Street, told police at 3:18 a.m. Sunday that he awoke to find a man in his residence who demanded that he hand over his money. Wasnick complied and the suspect fled, police said.

• Mark Foreman was cited with criminal mischief after Richard Tattersall told police at 10:22 p.m. Saturday that a tenant told him she saw Tattersall smash a window of a building he owns on West Chestnut Street, police said.

• Joseph Belcastro told police at 2 a.m. Sunday that five men approached him as he was walking on Stanton Street and asked him for all of his belongings. When Belcastro refused, one of the men pulled out a handgun. Belcastro complied and the suspects fled.

• Paul Cunningham, of 451 S. Franklin St., told police at 11:34 a.m. Sunday that he found a man in his kitchen who fled without taking anything. The suspect is described as a black male in his 30s, about 6 feet tall, 180 pounds, with black hair and wearing a blue sweatshirt and blue jeans.

• Charles Meehan, 50, of Nicholson Street, Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness at 10:18 a.m. Sunday at 616 Hazle St.

• Ronita Freeze, 49, of Wilkes-Barre, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after an officer on foot patrol detected the odor of burnt marijuana in the area of rear 15 S. Franklin Street just after 7 a.m. Sunday. Police said an investigation led the officer to Freeze, who was allegedly in possession of the illegal items.

• Elicia Harrison, of Bear Swamp Road, Shickshinny, told police at 12:53 a.m. Friday that someone removed her wallet from her vehicle while it was parked in Kirby Park.

• It was reported at 6:20 a.m. Sunday that someone stole two computer towers and keyboards from Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, 575 N. River St.

• Colleen Genetti, 43, of 207 New Elizabeth St., told police at 7:06 p.m. Saturday that someone broke into her home and stole a flat-screen TV, a gold chain, two rings and other items.

• Jennifer Kupiec, 30, of West Pittston, told police at 5:35 p.m. Saturday that someone stole her cell phone from her Chevrolet while the vehicle was parked in Kirby Park.

• Vince Kabacinski, 60, of Wilkes-Barre, told police at 4:33 p.m. Saturday that Gerald Wolfe, 28, of 275 Horton St., Wilkes-Barre, took four rings from his desk and a tie clip. Wolfe was arrested on a theft charge, police said.