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First Posted: 10/22/2013
WILKES-BARRE — Police are investigating a large fight that broke out at about 2 a.m. Saturday outside Joe K’s Brewhouse on South Main Street. Several people were injured, including a 21-year-old man who was critically injured and remains hospitalized.
Detectives are investigating the incident and reviewing video footage. According to witnesses, several people recorded the incident on their cell phones as it was taking place, police said.
Police ask that anyone who has recorded footage of the fight or witnessed it contact Detective David Sobocinski at 570-208-4201. Witnesses or video contributors can remain anonymous, police said.
WILKES-BARRE — City police on Wednesday seized guns and arrested a West Pittston man on firearms charges in connection with reports of shots fired in the Maffet Street area over the two previous days.
While conducting an investigation into the reports, the Wilkes-Barre Police Anti-Crime Unit conducted a traffic stop near Maffet Street and Old River Road just before 6:30 p.m. on a gray sedan that fit the description of the vehicle involved in a shots-fired report, police said.
As a result of the stop, police took into custody Rashard Elson Warren, whom they say was in possession of a handgun, a shotgun and several rounds of ammunition concealed in the vehicle. The specific charges filed against Warren, 32, of Tunkhannock Avenue, were unavailable Wednesday night.
HAZLETON — The Pennsylvania Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement cited 15th Street Beer Warehouse Corp., doing business as D’Amato’s Pizza, for allegedly violating the state Liquor Code.
According to a release from the Pennsylvania State Police, the charges stem from an Aug. 28 incident. The alleged code violations were listed as fortified, adulterated and/or contaminated liquor.
The release states penalties can range from $50 to $1,000 for minor offense and up to $5,000 for more serious offenses. An administrative law judge can also impose a license suspension or revocation based on the severity of the charge(s) brought. The judge can also mandate training for the licensee.
DALLAS TWP. — Brewzers bar along Lower Demunds Road was cited by the state police Liquor Enforcement bureau within the last two months for not having a manager on staff who has completed the Responsible Alcohol Management Program training, state police said.
The charges are to be brought to an administrative law judge who has the authority to fine the bar owners $50 to $1,000 or suspend or revoke the bar’s liquor license.
BLACK CREEK TWP. — John E. Peak, 56, of Sugarloaf Township, was charged with criminal mischief after he allegedly cut locks and chains off gates on Hilltop Drive owned by David H. Ratzel, 46, of Reinholds, and Sharon A. Rohrbach, 61, of Sugarloaf Township, on or about Oct. 13, state police at Hazleton said.
HAZLE TWP. — Stephen J. Becker, 35, of Lansford, was cited with careless driving after a crash on Interstate 81 on Friday afternoon, state police at Hazleton said.
Police said Becker was driving a 2004 Ford Explorer south in the right lane at about 4:20 p.m. when he tried to pass a 2010 Ford Edge that Lisa A. Swanson, 48, of Auburn, was driving south in the left lane and one of the Explorer’s tires blew out, causing the Explorer to travel into the path of the Edge.
The Edge struck the passenger side door of the Explorer and the Explorer spun around and traveled off the road, striking a construction sign. The Edge also left the roadway, coming to rest on the shoulder. Becker suffered moderate injury and Swanson suffered minor injury; both were transported to Hazleton General Hospital by Valley Regional EMS, police said.
The Explorer’s tires were bald with minimal tread, police said.
HANOVER TWP. —Township police reported the following:
• Luci Warrick, of Lee Park Avenue, Hanover Township, reported that her white 2002 Jeep Cherokee was stolen Sunday night. The Jeep has Pennsylvania registration JKB4850, and has oversized tires with black rims.
• Natalie Nichi, of Sullivan Place, Claymont Avenue, reported someone entered her apartment sometime in September or October, rummaged through it and stole a 15-inch Coby television. No forced entry was reported.
• Melissa Schinse, 27, of Wilkes-Barre, was arraigned on Tuesday before District Judge Joseph Halesey on charges of forgery, theft by deception and receiving stolen property stemming from an incident in August in which Schinse allegedly forged and cashed a personal check at the UFCW Credit Union on the Sans Souci Parkway. She was released on her own recognizance and is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled 9:30 a.m. Nov. 19.
• April Arnone, 34, of Hanover Township, was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Joseph Halesey on a felony charge of retail theft stemming from a late September incident in which she allegedly stole several drinks from the EZ Express on the Sans Souci Parkway. She was released on her own recognizance and is awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled 9:30 a.m. Nov. 19.
• David Lamoreaux, 21, of Kingston, faces misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property, with police alleging he took two hydrocodone tablets while employed at CVS Caremark on Great Valley Boulevard in early October, police said.
KINGSTON — Municipal police reported the following:
• David Nagel, 52, of Dallas, was taken into custody on Friday on an arrest warrant on charges of default in required appearance, possession of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia based on a traffic stop on Aug. 18. Nagel was arraigned by District Justice Paul Roberts and lodged in the Luzerne County Correctional Facilty pending a preliminary hearing.
• Russell Meyer, 22, of Mountain Top, was was charged with providing false identification to law enforcement, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct after police said they observed him looking into vehicles in the area of West Market Street at about 4:08 a.m. Friday and, upon being approached by an officer, allegedly provided a false name, became agressive and ran before he was captured and positivly identified.
• Christian Cooper, 18, was charged with theft from a motor vehicle, robbery, loitering and prowling at nightime, providing false ID to law enforcement and harassment after police responded at 2:56 a.m. Oct. 14 to investigate a report of a person stealing items from cars, assaulting a female and taking her wallet.
A search of the area resulted in Cooper’s capture and arrest, police said. Cooper was also wanted by Luzerne County Juvenile Probation and was lodged in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility to await a preliminary hearing, police said.
• Barry Gatley, 44, was arrested on Oct. 14 as a result of an investigation into drug sales on Wright Avenue by the Kingston Police SID Unit along with the state Attorney General’s Office and Luzerne County Drug Task Force, police said.
Gatley was charged with the sale of heroin and possesion of heroin, arraigned by District Judge Paul Roberts and lodged in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility pending his preliminary hearing, police said.
• Donald Jason Kinney, 37, of Wilkes-Barre, was charged on Oct. 16 with recieving stolen property in connection with an incident on Aug. 12. Charges of drug possession, flight to avoid apprehension and resisting arrest also were filed in connection with an incident on Oct., 8, police said.
Kinney was arraigned before District Judge Paul Roberts and lodged at the county prison. He also was wanted by the Luzerne County Sheriff and Pennsylvania State Police, municipal police said.
HAZLETON — City police reported the following:
• Christopher Yanoski, 31, of Hazleton, was cited with violating the city drug and drug paraphernalia ordinance after an incident in the 400 block of East Broad Street at about 7:20 p.m. Monday, police said.