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ASHLEY — Clothing recovered from a wrecked vehicle involved in a police pursuit last weekend was allegedly stolen from a store at the Wyoming Valley Mall.
Borough police Wednesday charged John Ricko, 32, of Glen Lyon, and Melissa Ann Doran, 32, of Warrior Run, with receiving stolen property after clothing from JCPenney was found inside a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am.
Police allege the clothing was stolen from JCPenney on Saturday. That’s the same day Ricko allegedly robbed the Family Dollar store on South Main Street in Ashley, then fled in the Pontiac driven by Doran.
About one hour after the Family Dollar robbery, police in Wilkes-Barre Township say they spotted the Pontiac in the parking lot of the Wilkes-Barre Township Marketplace on Highland Boulevard.
Police allege Ricko was driving the Pontiac when it was seen in Wilkes-Barre Township.
Ricko refused to stop and initiated a pursuit into Wilkes-Barre where he crashed into another vehicle and a boat in the area of 15 Gilligan St., according to court records.
A child was with Ricko and Doran at the time of the crash, a complaint says.
After the wreck, Ricko reportedly told police he took the Family Dollar cash drawer containing more than $360 because he and Doran were evicted and needed money for a place to stay.
Police said they recovered the stolen clothes after executing a search warrant on the Pontiac.
Ricko and Doran remain jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $35,000 bail each.