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DALLAS TWP. — A woman was arraigned Monday on charges she struck a man with a Jeep and slapped another man while they tried to repossess her vehicle.
Township police allege Charlene Marie Burton, 35, of Rays Lane, ran out of her house screaming and cursing while Larry Totaro and Michael Wagner arrived to repossess the Jeep on Feb. 15.
According to a criminal complaint:
Totaro and Wagner backed up a flatbed truck to the Jeep and attached chains to the undercarriage. As they were doing this, Bruce Hanson emerged from Burton’s house and told the two men he had until 4:30 p.m. to make a payment.
Burton ran from her house screaming and cursing at Totaro and Wagner.
Wagner told police he intentionally stood next to the driver’s door to prevent Burton from entering the Jeep. He claimed Burton slapped him in the face and pushed her way into the driver’s seat.
Totaro told Burton to calm down but she continued to scream and curse. Hanson attempted to unhook the chains as Burton started the vehicle and threw it in reverse, striking Totaro with an open door.
Totaro then jumped into the Jeep’s rear seat, telling Burton to stop and wait for police.
Wagner told officers Hanson disconnected the chains from the winch on the flatbed truck, leaving the chains still connected to the Jeep’s undercarriage. Wagner said he feared Burton would drive into traffic with the chains, creating a danger for other motorists.
Totaro said Burton drove the Jeep a short distance before she stopped.
Totaro suffered injuries to his legs, but the Jeep was still repossessed.
Burton was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment. She was arraigned in Luzerne County Central Court and jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $15,000 bail.