Crime & Courts

November 13, 2009

Woman stabbed attacker, police say Police Blotter

PLAINS TWP. – A woman stabbed a man after he forced his way into her residence and assaulted her early Thursday morning, according to arrest records.

Ronald James Nice II, 38, of Exeter, was charged with burglary, simple assault, criminal trespass and harassment. He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $15,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

Nice forced his way into a residence on East Carey Street and assaulted Josephine Zekes just after 3:30 a.m. Zekes said Nice punched her in the face, and she grabbed a knife and stabbed Nice in the hand.

Police said Nice was arrested at a residence in Exeter.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 17 before District Judge Diana Malast in Plains Township.

HAZLE TWP. – State police at Hazleton said on Thursday they are investigating an armed robbery involving two men on state Route 940 on Oct. 22.

Police said Justin Hunsinger, 18, said two men stole $400 and prescription tablets from him at gunpoint. The two men then sped away in a green Chevrolet Lumina that is registered to Latarasha Bubb of Freeland, police said.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the whereabouts of Bubb is asked to contact state police at Hazleton at 459-3890.

WILKES-BARRE – City police reported the following:

• Police are investigating an attempted armed robbery that occurred at Penn Lee Footwear, East Main Street, on Wednesday. A female armed with a knife concealed her face and entered the business just after 2 p.m. demanding money from a clerk.

Police said the woman fled without money. She is described as being approximately 30 years old, 5 feet, 5 inches tall, thin build and brown hair.

Amy Kraig, of West Pittston, reported Wednesday that an 17-year-old male threw an egg at her in the area of Stanton and Airy streets.

• Joshua Wink, 23, of Wilkes-Barre Township, was found unconscious on Anthracite Street at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. Police were able to awake Wink who was allegedly in possession of a syringe and several heroin packets.

• Marie Kelly, of Coal Street, reported on Wednesday someone stole money from her residence.

• Christopher Grady, of Richmond, Va., reported Wednesday someone stole a global positioning system unit and an iPod from his vehicle while it was parked on North River Street.

• A 14-year-old boy reported his cell phone was stolen Wednesday from 250 S. Grant St..

• A 15-year-old girl from Wilkes-Barre violated a protection from abuse order after she allegedly assaulted Stephanie Porter at 168 Andover St. on Tuesday. The girl was cited with simple assault and harassment.

• Two tires on a vehicle owned by SBA Network were flattened while it was parked in the area of 332 E. South St. on Wednesday.

• Kim Pasonick reported someone stole her cell phone on Public Square on Wednesday.

• Ronald Scheidler reported Wednesday that copper pipe was stolen during a burglary at 381 E. Northampton St.

• William Cronauer reported Wednesday someone accessed his bank account to make an unauthorized purchase at Amazon.

• Police apprehended Stacey Devens, 36, of River Road, Pittston, who was wanted in New Jersey, during a traffic stop on the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Tuesday.

• Paul Eicke, 64, of West Union Street, Luzerne, was allegedly in possession of cocaine that was found during a traffic stop on the Veterans Memorial Bridge on Tuesday.

• Derek Havard, 26, of Andrew Drive, Ashley, was arrested on evidence of drunken driving after being stopped for speeding at Scott Street and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard on Wednesday.

• A man stole a dog at Uni Mart, Hazle Avenue, on Tuesday. The dog was unleashed and unattended while its owner was in the store.

• Joseph Edwards, 58, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited twice with public drunkenness when he was found intoxicated on South Main Street at 6:09 p.m. and 9:14 p.m. Monday. Joseph Ramsey, 60, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited with public drunkenness when he was found intoxicated with Joseph at 6:09 p.m.

• A garage door on South Hancock Street was found damaged on Tuesday.

• Elizabeth Seidel, 18, of Wilkes-Barre, was cited with retail theft for allegedly stealing $11 in merchandise from Family Dollar, South Main Street, on Monday.

WILKES-BARRE – Frederick G. Mashman, 40, of Madison Street, Wilkes-Barre, was charged with resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, possession of a small amount of marijuana and public drunkenness.

Mashman was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $5,000 bail, court records show.

According to the criminal complaint:

Police were investigating a dispute at 215 High St., where Mashman was yelling profanities at Desiree King, 27, at about 9:40 p.m. Mashman appeared to be intoxicated and yelled profanities at officers. Police said Mashman struggled with officers and kicked an officer in the leg.

Mashman was taken to police headquarters where, police allege, they found two plastic bags filled with suspected marijuana.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 19 in Wilkes-Barre Central Court.

HANOVER TWP. – Township police reported the following:

• Police arrested Tyrone Walden, 55, of Maffett Street, Wilkes-Barre, Tuesday for allegedly violating a protection from abuse order when he contacted Rebecca Walden, of Hanover Village apartments. Police said Walden contacted her by telephone and text messages in violation of the PFA.

Walden was arraigned by District Judge Joseph Halesey and released without bail.

• A 14-year-old boy from Mark Drive, Marion Terrace, was petitioned to Luzerne County Juvenile Court on charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia on Thursday.

• Daniel Delbaso, of David Road, reported someone smashed a window and damaged a door frame and two window screens at his residence in an attempted burglary on Tuesday.

• Karen Phoenix, of Lyndwood Avenue, reported on Tuesday someone spray-painted graffiti on her privacy fence. Police said the vandals painted satanic symbols. A similar complaint was recently filed by Phoenix, police said.

Anyone with information about the graffiti is asked to contact Hanover Township police at 825-1254 or 911.

WEST HAZLETON – State police at Hazleton said a man wearing a camouflage jacket attempted to steal cigarettes and money during a burglary Tuesday at Puff and Stuff, North Fourth Street.

The man smashed the front door and stole the items. When he was confronted outside, he dropped the items and ran away, police said.

Police described the man as wearing a winter-type camouflage jacket with a hood, light-colored pants, boots and dark winter gloves. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hazleton barracks at 459-3890.HANOVER TWP. – State police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement reported the following:

• Henmark Inc., doing business as Halftime Lounge, 189-191 Simpson St., Swoyersville, was recently cited with possessing fortified or contaminated liquor.

• Michaels, 429-433 Main St., Kingston, was recently cited with failing to require patrons to vacate 30 minutes after closing, and permitting patrons to remove beverages after 2:30 a.m.

• Coldilran, doing business as Red Rooster Motel Restaurant and Lounge, 1344 Harwood Road, Hazle Township, was recently cited with furnishing alcohol between 2 a.m. and 7 a.m.

• Anna Marie Davis, 338-340 E. Northampton St., Wilkes-Barre, was recently cited with failing to post a notice of suspension in a visible window. HAZLETON – Police said they arrested two city adults and at least two juveniles for allegedly breaking into a car dealership and stealing car keys and snacks from a vending machine late Wednesday night.

Reginald McCoy, 38, of South Cedar Street, was charged with eight counts of criminal solicitation, two counts of corruption of minors and a single count of criminal mischief.

Leslie M. Taylor, 29, also of South Cedar Street, was charged with four counts of criminal conspiracy and two counts of corruption of minors. They were jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $15,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaint:

A witness observed lights on inside Sherrock Brothers Dodge on South Poplar Street at about 11:50 p.m. Wednesday. When the witness approached the building, two juveniles ran away and were captured by police in a nearby parking lot.

Police said a door at the dealership was forced open and a snack machine inside the building was smashed. Snacks of potato chips were found inside and outside the building.

The investigation allegedly determined McCoy and Taylor conspired with the juveniles and other people to steal car keys from the dealership. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Nov. 18 before District Judge Joseph Zola in Hazleton.

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