Crime & Courts

July 4, 2008

Police Blotter

WEST PITTSTON – Police said a fire that destroyed a vehicle parked behind an Elm Street home on Tuesday was deliberately set.

Police said an investigation by state police deputy fire marshal Ron Jarocha determined that an accelerant was used to start the fire in a 1990 Chevrolet Cavalier that was parked in the rear of 136 Elm St. at about 1:20 a.m.

The fire was extinguished by the West Pittston Fire Department.

Anyone with information about the fire is asked to contact West Pittston police at 655-7780.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

Officers responded to a report of a fight involving four people on Park Avenue on Tuesday afternoon, police said.

Police arrested Lamar Johnson, 28, of Wilkes-Barre, Marquis Rejeim Griffin, 30, of Edwardsville, Lashawna T. Harris, 26, of Wilkes-Barre, and Shanene Scott, 19, of Wilkes-Barre, on charges of disorderly conduct and harassment.

Several suspects attempted to flee before police arrived but were arrested shortly thereafter, police said. Each claimed the other initiated the confrontation, police said.

While investigating a separate incident, police said they observed 19-year-old Shanene Scott, of Wilkes-Barre, committing a traffic violation on South Grant Street on Tuesday.

Scott fled, committing other traffic violations, police said. He was eventually stopped. Charges of fleeing and attempting to elude police will be filed, police said.

A female juvenile reported that a neighbor, who was evicted from a residence, threatened her on Scott Street at 10:34 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Police said trespassing charges were filed against Hope Remus and Martin Gushock Jr. after they were found in Kirby Park after hours at 3:16 a.m. Wednesday.

Ashley Shultz, who was stopped for suspicious activity on South Franklin Street and offered officers a search of her purse at 3:27 a.m. Wednesday, was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after a suspected crack pipe and two needles were found, police said.

Police said someone threw rocks on 65-year-old Daniel Branas’ vehicle causing damage at 14 Pelza St. on Wednesday.

Christopher Bachman, 31, was arrested after allegedly stealing more than $500 worth of copper fittings from 41 Spring St. on Wednesday, police said.

A female reported to police that someone took her cell phone from a table at a Kidder Street restaurant while she was away on Tuesday afternoon. Police said the approximate value of the phone was $400.

A male reported someone removed $700 cash and identification from his luggage he left with persons he recently met on Kidder Street at 2:35 p.m. Tuesday, police said.

Police said officers investigating a separate incident encountered 25-year-old Jason Raymond Edwards, of Shavertown, and found him to be in possession of suspected controlled substances and drug paraphernalia on North Empire Street at 6:47 p.m. Tuesday.

Edwards was arrested and appropriate charges will be filed against him, police said.

A man reported he was assaulted by two males and relieved of a cell phone on Coal Street on Tuesday night, according to police. The victim did not require medical attention, police said. The value of the phone was approximately $80, police said.

• Police said a vehicle parked on Poplar Street was damaged on Wednesday.

• Police are investigating a report that a white male, in his 20s, with brown hair and brown eyes, attempted to lure a child into a vehicle on Hanover Street on Tuesday. A second white male and a female were inside the vehicle, police said.

• Police said money and property were stolen in a home burglary on East Northampton Street on Wednesday.

• Police said John Sims, 21, of Wilkes-Barre, faces a disorderly conduct charge for allegedly igniting fireworks on Gilligan Street on Monday.

HAZLE TWP. – State police at Hazleton arrested Michael A. Spina, 46, of Girardville, for allegedly kicking a clerk and stealing groceries at Thomas’ Market, Church Hill Mall, on Wednesday.

Spina was charged with retail theft, harassment, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $10,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police said Spina left the market with groceries valued at $528 at about 8:20 p.m. When a clerk confronted Spina, he kicked her in the leg twice and ran through the parking lot.

An off-duty Freeland police officer detained Spina until state police arrived, the criminal complaint says.

A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled for July 10 in Central Court.

COURTDALE – A Hanover Township woman was not injured when she lost control of her vehicle and struck a fence at Courtdale Avenue and Hoyt Street on Wednesday, state police at Wyoming said.

Police said Karen Karpovich, 41, driving a 1989 Honda Civic, was eastbound on Courtdale Avenue and failed to negotiate a curve at about 9:30 p.m. Karpovich’s car crossed the on-coming lane and struck a fence in front of 243 Courtdale Ave., police said.

NEWPORT TWP. – Two men were charged Thursday after township police said they were involved in a fight.

Matthew Steven Ceppa, 39, and Asuancion Perez, 36, both from West Enterprise Street, Glen Lyon, were charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Ceppa was also charged with making terroristic threats and public drunkenness. Both men were jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $10,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaints:

Perez told police he was driving on West Enterprise Street at about 9:30 p.m. when Ceppa threw a rock that struck his vehicle.

Perez claimed Ceppa struck him in the head. Ceppa claimed Perez punched him in the face several times, the criminal complaint says.

Police said Ceppa called 911 and yelled profanities at dispatchers.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled for July 10 in Central Court.

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