Police Blotter

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following incidents:

A 911 caller, who attempted to disguise his voice, reported at 8:34 a.m. Tuesday that there was a bomb in G.A.R. Memorial Junior-Senior High School and there was one hour to get the students out of the building at 250 S. Grant St.

The building was evacuated, and a search was conducted. Nothing suspicious was noted.

Anne McManus reported that her vehicle had been entered and a Garmin GPS unit and 35 various compact discs were stolen at 120 Lawrence St. sometime between 9:30 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. Wednesday.

A male reported on Wednesday that he had a moving company at his Mayflower Crossing home when he noticed his laptop computer was missing.

Paul McGrane of Wilkes-Barre reported at 7:27 a.m. Wednesday that someone entered two of his unlocked vehicles parked at 38 Grebe St., rummaged through the interiors and stole a few compact discs.

A male reported at 7:16 a.m. Wednesday that someone entered his unlocked vehicle parked at 174 Crescent Ave., rummaged through the interior and stole a $35 Mag flashlight.

Someone entered the basement of 48 N. Grant St. and removed a quantity of copper pipes sometime between 9 p.m. Tuesday and 8:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police said it appeared the suspect used bolt cutters to remove the pipes.

A property manager reported at 10:12 a.m. Wednesday that someone broke a lead glass window and damaged the front and rear entry doors to gain entry at 154 Willow St.

• John Cassidy, 27, of Scranton, will be cited with disorderly conduct for allegedly throwing a telephone inside Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center early Thursday morning.

• Two drivers involved in a vehicle crash on North River Street may have been intoxicated

Karen Wade, 39, of Uniondale, operating a 2008 Toyota Rav 4, and David Barton, 26, of Nanticoke, operating a 2003 Jeep Liberty, collided near the Tuff Tex Plaza. Both drivers exhibited signs of intoxication, police said, and were transported to a hospital for blood alcohol tests.

HANOVER TWP. – Police said Lawrence Coyle, 29, of Wilkes-Barre, will be cited with public drunkenness for allegedly banging on a door at the American Legion Post 609, Lee Park Avenue, at about 2:15 a.m. Thursday. Police said Coyle was wanted by Wilkes-Barre police on charges of disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

BUTLER TWP. – A vehicle burst into flames after crashing into a home on High Meadow Drive early Thursday morning, police said.

Police said Shawn W. Yachera, of Dogwood Road, Drums, operating a Chevrolet Trail Blazer, was traveling at a high rate of speed and lost control on South Biesels Road at about 12:30 a.m.

Yachera’s vehicle traveled through several yards until he crashed into the residence of Joseph Boland, police said.

Anthony Backo, a neighbor, heard the crash and pulled Yachera from the burning vehicle, police said.

Boland, who was home at the time, used a fire extinguisher to put out the flames. Boland’s home sustained substantial structural damage to the basement, police said.

Police said Yachera was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township, for injuries and to submit to a blood alcohol test. Alcohol may have played a role in the crash, police said.

• A pool was damaged behind a home in the 600 block of West Butler Drive. Damage to the pool caused it to drain.

• A storm drain was blocked in Bentwood Village by someone dumping leaves and other debris in a nearby field.

• A 13-year old boy was petitioned to Luzerne County Juvenile Court for allegedly stealing a family member’s vehicle to visit a friend on Thursday. The juvenile is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle and driving without a license.

• Richard L. Cucinotta, 23, of Blakeslee, was cited with public drunkenness when he was allegedly found intoxicated on a porch of a home in the 200 block of North Old Turnpike Road on Saturday.

• Police released combined statistics for September and October: 1,289 incidents; 34 people charged; 97 traffic stops; 15 assaults; six burglaries; 30 thefts; five stolen vehicles; 17 criminal mischiefs; eight drunken drivers; one rape; one robbery; one arson; 22 domestic disputes; 58 suspicious vehicles; 69 service calls; 34 fire alarms; 26 hazardous conditions, and 33 vehicle accidents.

WEST PITTSTON – A man was arrested by police on Tuesday for his alleged role in a home burglary on Foundry Street.

Wayne Douglas Tilley Jr., 28, of West Pittston, was charged with three counts of criminal conspiracy and a single count of simple assault. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $20,000 bail.

Police allege Tilley, Nicholas Pugliese Jr., 21, of Berwick, Ryan Casey, 21, of Nanticoke, and Kyle Mangan, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, conspired to burglarize a residence on Nov. 21. Two men wore ski masks and entered the home through an unlocked front door. One of the men allegedly assaulted a residence and attempted to steal electronic equipment, police said.

Pugliese was captured after a chase by police. He was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal conspiracy to commit criminal trespass. He remains jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $25,000 bail.

Police are seeking the whereabouts of Casey and Mangan, who are charged with robbery, burglary, simple assault and criminal attempt.

Anyone with information about Casey or Mangan is asked to contact West Pittston police at 655-7784, ext. 310, or call 911.

HANOVER TWP. – State police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement said they recently cited One More, Inc., 326 Scott St., Wilkes-Barre, for permitting smoking in a public place and failing to post signage as required by the Clean Indoor Air Act.

WEST HAZLETON – A Hazleton man was charged by police on Wednesday for allegedly burglarizing his sister’s residence and stealing jewelry and other items.

Joel Galbiati, 24, of Alter Street, was charged with three counts of receiving stolen property, and one count each of burglary, theft, criminal conspiracy to commit theft, criminal mischief and terroristic threats. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $20,000 bail.

Police allege Galbiati forced his way inside his sister’s residence on West Madison Avenue on Nov. 24. Galbiati stole numerous pieces of jewelry and a watch from the home.

Police said in the criminal complaint that Galbiati had asked a friend to sell the watch at a pawn shop in which a clerk refused to purchase the watch.

Police in their investigation checked pawn shops in the Hazleton area and discovered that a man had attempted to sell a watch that matched the description of the watch stolen from the West Madison Avenue residence.

Galbiati denied he burglarized his sister’s residence, the criminal complaint says.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2 before District Judge Thomas Sharkey in Hazle Township.

KINGSTON – A traffic stop led to the arrest of two fugitives on drug charges on Tuesday, according to charges filed.

Police said Dezman Jay Williams, 25, of Philadelphia, was stopped for speeding and failing to use turn signals on Market Street at about 11:35 p.m.

Police had earlier observed Williams speeding on Market Street and pull into the Cabaret Lounge parking lot. A passenger in the vehicle, Lacena Marie Gantz, 30, of York, exited the vehicle and entered the lounge while Williams waited for her in the vehicle.

Gantz was inside the lounge for several minutes before driving away with Williams, police said.

Police learned during the traffic stop that Williams was wanted by Harrisburg police and Gantz was wanted by Philadelphia police.

Police said in the criminal complaints that Williams was in possession of crack in his underwear, and Gantz was found with marijuana in her purse.

Williams and Gantz were charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Williams was also charged with two traffic violations, and Gantz charged with tampering with evidence. They were jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $20,000 bail each.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Dec. 2 before District Judge Paul Roberts in Kingston.

HAZLETON – Police arrested a Weatherly man on charges he stole items from parked vehicles on West Broad Street early Wednesday morning.

Zachary John Hanes, 22, of Fourth Street, was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property, and one count of theft, criminal mischief and loitering and prowling at night. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

Police allege Hanes stole two global positioning system units from a government vehicle, and a cell phone cord from another vehicle. Hanes was also loitering in the parking lot near a tavern on West Broad Street, according to the criminal complaint.

A preliminary hearing is set for Dec. 2 before District Judge Joseph Zola in Hazleton.

PLYMOUTH – A man was charged Wednesday with stealing a neighbor’s vehicle computer components, which he attempted to sell on an Internet auction site.

Eric William George, 20, of Elm Street, was charged with theft and receiving stolen property. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

Jeff Henderson told police on Tuesday that five vehicle computer components he purchased on eBay were missing from his residence on Elm Street. Henderson confirmed with the U.S. Postal Service the items were delivered and left on his porch on Nov. 18.

Henderson located the items on the Internet auction site craigslist.com and sent an e-mail to the seller, identified in the criminal complaint as George.