Police Blotter

BEAR CREEK TWP. – A man was charged by state police at Wyoming on Thursday for allegedly head butting his stepson.

Vincent Stewart Stepp, 48, of Laurel Run Road, was charged with simple assault and harassment. He was released on $5,000 bail.

Travis Betsworth told police Stepp head butted him after an argument about a drain in the bathroom at about 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the criminal complaint states. Police said Betsworth suffered a head injury.

HAZLE TWP. – Two Drifton men were arrested on allegations they broke into a garage and stole two quads early Wednesday morning.

James A. Lescowitch, 30, and James M. Blanyar, 31, were both arraigned on two counts of theft by unlawful taking and one county each of receiving stolen property, burglary and criminal trespass, court records indicate.

Lescowitch and Blanyar were both jailed on $25,000 and $50,000 straight bail, respectively.

State police at Hazleton alleged the pair removed the two quads – a Yamaha Grizzly quad and an Alpha Sports quad – from a woman’s garage at 2281 Route 940, arrest papers state. A third quad was also stolen, but has not been recovered.

The Yamaha was later recovered behind the Jeddo Stars Baseball Field in Drifton. The other quad was found in woods near the Drifton Softball Complex, police said.

Preliminary hearings have been tentatively scheduled for May 28 in Central Court.

Tom Engle, of 220 Gilligan St., reported at 3:58 p.m. Wednesday that he was traveling east on Butler Street, near North Washington Street, when a rider on a motorcycle drove into oncoming traffic and spit on his windshield.

Engle was able to get the license plate and reported the incident to police. Police said they charged George Bellas, 23, of Forty Fort, with disorderly conduct in connection with the incident.

Elisa Carabello reported on Tuesday that someone stole her Weed Wacker from her front porch at 10 Garnett Lane.

Police arrested 36-year-old Eric Saunders for allegedly appearing in public highly intoxicated and being in possession of a glass pipe with black residue used to ingest crack cocaine at 395 S. Main St. on Tuesday.

Richard Janov reported he was notified by PPL that an unknown suspect assumed his identity for electrical service on May 1. The incident is under investigation.

Police initiated a traffic stop at 180 S. Wilkes-Barre Blvd. on Tuesday. Police said suspects fled when the officer approached the vehicle.

Derek Havard reported at 7:25 p.m. Tuesday that Dorothy Longfoot allegedly violated a protection from abuse order by making contact with him at Kirby Park. A charge of indirect criminal contempt was filed against Longfoot.

Charges were filed Tuesday against Corey Edwards, of Archbald, for indirect criminal contempt of a protection from abuse order after he allegedly contacted a woman multiple times at 807 N. Washington St.

Muhamed Essaidi reported at 6:43 p.m. Tuesday that an unknown person stole his bird bath out of his front yard at 22 Loomis St.

Lori Lee Sincavage, of Wilkes-Barre, reported at 11 a.m. Tuesday that she found three unauthorized transactions on her bank statement. The overall loss is approximately $323.95.

Arden Fahey reported at 1:29 a.m. Wednesday that a man she knows shoved her at 98 Carey Ave. Fahey did not wish to pursue criminal charges.

Trevor Tonic, of 27 Darling St., was cited for disorderly conduct after police alleged officers gave him several verbal warnings to stop the use of profanities during a fight in the street at 879 S. Franklin St. at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday.

Bessie O’Brien reported at 12:05 p.m. Tuesday that a man she knows punched her at 35 S. Franklin St. O’Brien did not wish to pursue criminal charges.

Andrew Metzger, of 747 N. Washington St., was cited for harassment after allegedly threatening his girlfriend that he would come over to her home and kick her in the stomach at 30 Hughes St. at 2:38 p.m. Wednesday.

DORRANCE TWP. – State police at Hazleton are investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred Wednesday on southbound Interstate 81.

A 1999 Volkswagen Jetta, driven by Alisha L. Wood, 21, of Berwick, was traveling on the highway when her 1999 Volkswagen Jetta struck the rear end of a 2004 International Harvester, driven by Joseph J. Yenchick, 51, of Drums, police said.

The crash occurred as traffic was slowing down for the backup from a truck fire, police said. Both vehicles were pulled over to the shoulder. No injuries were reported.

Wood’s vehicle was towed from the scene by Kisenwether’s Towing, police said.

AVOCA – The state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, District Office No. 2, cited the owners of Boozers Sports Bar, 635 Main St., for the following violations that occurred at the licensed establishment on April 10:

Used a loudspeaker or similar device whereby the sound of music or other entertainment could be heard outside the licensed premises

BLACK CREEK TWP. – A tractor-trailer hauling cattle overturned on the eastbound lanes of Interstate 80 late Wednesday night.

State police at Hazleton said the tractor-trailer overturned just before midnight. The trailer was hauling approximately 20 cattle, of which several roamed the nearby woods and fields after the accident.

Police said traffic was slow on the interstate as the cattle were placed in another trailer.

WILKES-BARRE – Police arrested a city man on evidence of drunken driving and a firearm offense after a traffic stop early Thursday morning.

Michael Torres, 20, of Custer Street, was charged with firearms not to be carried without a license, driving under the influence, possession a small amount of marijuana, underage drinking and two traffic offenses. He was jailed for lack of $10,000 bail.

Police stopped a Saturn for an expired inspection sticker and a license plate that is registered to another vehicle on South Main Street at about 3 a.m.

Officers observed a .22-caliber handgun on the driver’s side floor when Torres opened the door. Torres told police the handgun didn’t work and didn’t belong to him. The license plate on the vehicle is registered to a Dodge.

Torres was taken to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for a blood-alcohol test. A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on May 28 in Central Court.

HAZLETON – The state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, District Office No. 2, cited The Knights of Columbus Home Association of Hazleton, 243 E. Broad St., for possessing or operating gambling devices or paraphernalia on April 15.

The home association was additionally cited for permitting minors to frequent the licensed premises on April 15, the BLCE said.

LUZERNE COUNTY – The Sobriety Checkpoint Program will sponsor sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols throughout the county during Memorial Day weekend.

The program, administered through Luzerne County Probation Services with funding provided by the state Department of Transportation, serves as a reminder that the impaired driver puts innocent lives in jeopardy.

Sobriety checkpoints will be held in Hazleton, Wright Township and Kingston Township. A roving patrol will be conducted in Butler Township. All operations are weather dependent.

Law enforcement officers will be at checkpoints advising motorists of the dangers of driving under the influence and enhancing public safety.

Noel Norwillo was traveling west on East Chestnut Street when he became distracted and struck at tree at about 1:12 p.m. Wednesday.

Deborah Fuller Minix reported at 8:18 a.m. Thursday that she was walking in the area of South River Street, between Elk and South Franklin streets, when an unknown suspect grabbed her and unleashed her 10-year-old Pomeranian dog.

Someone entered 400 N. Main St. and removed a mountain bike belonging to Brian Pillonato at 2:45 p.m. Thursday.

Jamie O’Kane, of Kidder Street, reported at 2:48 p.m. Thursday that someone made wire transfers of funds from her checking account without authorization. The fraud investigation is continuing.

Shawn Mazzitelli reported at 1:02 a.m. Thursday that an unknown male struck him in the face and then fled on South Wilkes-Barre Boulevard. Less than two hours later, Tramy Nguyen reported a similar incident on Kidder Street.

Brian Dubois, 45, of Kingston, was arrested and issued a non-traffic citation for public drunkenness at 486 S. Franklin St. at 2:49 p.m. Thursday.

• Kimberly Janiec, 42, of Edison Street, was cited with public drunkenness after she was observed intoxicated in the area of 121 Edison St. at 8:09 p.m. on Thursday.

• Matthew McLaughlin, of Dallas, reported a digital camera was stolen from his vehicle while it was parked in the area of 548 E. Northampton St. on Tuesday.

• A window was smashed on a vehicle while it was parked in the area of 546 E. Northampton St. on Tuesday.

• Fitness Headquarters reported on Tuesday someone smashed a window on its vehicle while it was parked near their business at 548 E. Northampton St.

• Michelle Casey, of Gates Street, reported on Tuesday someone stole money during a burglary at her residence.

• A window was found smashed at Harostock Funeral Home, North Main Street, at 9:15 p.m. Thursday. No items were reported missing but a ceiling tile was found broken.

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Crime & Courts

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