Crime & Courts

December 25, 2009

Police Blotter

PITTSTON – A man was arraigned on Thursday on assault-related charges.

Richard Mickavicz, 22, of East Columbus Avenue, Pittston, was charged by Pittston police with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

Police allege Mickavicz assaulted David Folweller at his residence at about 5:20 a.m. Thursday, according to the criminal complaint.

Folweller was taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township for his injuries, police said.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Dec. 30 before District Judge Fred Pierantoni in Pittston.

EDWARDSVILLE – A man found lying in the middle of Main Street was arrested early Thursday morning on charges he attempted to assault officers.

Allen Cann Gonzalez, 31, of Main Street, Edwardsville, was charged with two counts each of criminal attempt to commit simple assault and disorderly conduct, and one count each of criminal attempt to commit simple assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest, harassment and public drunkenness. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police say they found an intoxicated Gonzalez lying in the middle of Main Street, near Jones Street, at about 12:06 a.m. Gonzelez was taken to the police department, where he struggled with two officers.

Police said they stunned Gonzalez twice with a Taser to control his aggressive actions toward officers.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled on Dec. 30 before District Judge Paul J. Roberts in Kingston.

HAZLE TWP. – Donald Prochko, of Stockton Mountain Road, reported to state police at Hazleton that a rifle and a scope were stolen during a burglary at his residence on Tuesday or Wednesday.

HAZLE TWP. – State police at Hazleton reported no injuries resulted from a two-vehicle crash at 12:05 p.m. Thursday at the intersection of 19th Street and Liberty Court.

Police said an SUV driven by Frank Mizenko of West Hazleton was heading through the intersection when an SUV driven by Christopher Popalis of Hazleton struck Mizenko’s Chevy Blazer. No injuries were reported and police said both men were wearing seat belts.

LUZERNE – A man was arraigned on Thursday on charges he was growing a marijuana plant in his residence, where drug paraphernalia was found.

Francis D. Gurnari Jr., 31, of Buckingham Avenue, Luzerne, was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal conspiracy. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police responded to a 911 hang-up call at Gurnari’s residence on Dec. 17 and allegedly found a marijuana plant growing under a lighting system inside a closet and a pipe commonly used to smoke marijuana.

Police also found a notebook with the word “Weed” written on it that listed money owed, the criminal complaint says.

Police said Gurnari permitted officers to search the residence after an odor of marijuana was detected.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled on Dec. 30 before District Judge David Barilla in Swoyersville.

PLAINS TWP. – Police said they recovered a tooth inside the Jazz Caf� after a man said he was assaulted in the nightclub on North River Street early Thursday morning.

Joel B. Derhammer told police he got into an argument with a man about his girlfriend inside the club. Derhammer said security attempted to remove the man, who punched him twice in the face, knocking out a tooth, according to a police news release.

Police said that security initially refused to allow officers inside the nightclub.

Derhammer’s tooth was recovered from the nightclub’s floor, police said.

Police said many patrons did not have identifications and were being permitted inside the nightclub through a rear door to avoid paying a cover charge.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

• Property valued at $65 was stolen from a vehicle when it was parked on Miner Street on Thursday.

• Property valued at $5,000 was stolen during a burglary at a residence on North Washington Street on Thursday.

• Property valued at $1,616 was stolen from a vehicle while it was parked on Conwell Street on Thursday.

• A man reported someone moved his vehicle from the front of his residence on Birch Street on Thursday. The vehicle was found parked in front of a neighbor’s residence.

• Tina Giarratano, 34, of Korn Street, Kingston, attempted to steal merchandise from Boscov’s Department Store, South Main Street, on Wednesday.

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