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Old Forge woman
allegedly stole vacuums
WILKES-BARRE TWP. — A Lackawanna County woman is accused of stealing two vacuums from Walmart several years ago.
Kari R. Kendricks, 32, of Old Forge, is alleged to have stolen two vacuums from Walmart without paying for them in July 2016.
Kendricks and a black male walked out of Walmart with two vacuums in their shopping cart without paying for them before driving off in a white Chevrolet, court papers say.
Walmart is seeking restitution for the stolen goods that were never recovered.
Kendricks was arraigned by District Judge Michael Dotzel on Wednesday on a lone retail theft charge. She was released on $5,000 unsecured bail.
Man knocked out
on Public Square
WILKES-BARRE — A Plymouth man was arrested after he knocked out another man during a dispute Tuesday, city police say.
Christian Jackson Barnes, 30, of 332 Moss St., allegedly knocked another man unconscious with one punch.
According to a criminal complaint:
A plain-clothes officer in an unmarked car observed Barnes knock out another man, later identified as Devon Hugh Ferril, at the intersection of Public Square and South Main Street just after 6 p.m.
Witnesses told police Barnes and Ferril knew each other and fought after they wanted to “get with the same girl.” When the girl left, both men began to fight.
Ferril was identified by his Virginia driver’s license found in his wallet on his way to the hospital.
Barnes was arraigned Tuesday by District Judge David A. Barilla on aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct charges. He was released on $5,000 unsecured bail.
Cops: Woman scratched
man’s face, damaged car
NANTICOKE — A woman was arrested after she allegedly scratched a man’s face and damaged a car windshield in February.
Kassandra Lynn Simonds, 35, of 191 W. Green St., Nanticoke, was involved in an argument with the father of her children, authorities report.
According to a criminal complaint:
Police were dispatched to Cocoa Hut, 14 N. Market St., for a reported domestic dispute.
An officer interviewed Robert Fenner, who claimed he went t0 Simonds’ apartment to give her a gift to mend their strained relationship. He was greeted by his daughter who said that Simonds would come out in a few minutes and needed a ride to work.
Fenner told police he and Simonds have five children together and have been separated for five months without having contact with one another.
Simonds told Fenner that she was talking with other people and asked if she could see his phone. He declined and claims that’s when a physical altercation began.
Fenner said Simonds began to claw and scratch his face, producing swelling and redness. She then began to punch the windshield of his car, causing it to crack.
WB man faces
drug charges
WILKES-BARRE — Drug agents with the state Office of Attorney General arrested Michael Ashby, 36, on charges he sold heroin from his residence at 435 S. Grant St.
Ashby was arrested Monday as drug agents were preparing to execute a search warrant at his home.
Heroin was found hidden in a ceiling, according to court records.
Ashby was arraigned Tuesday by District Judge Brian Tupper in Luzerne County Central Court on four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, three counts of criminal use of a communication facility, and a single count of possession of a controlled substance. He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $50,000 bail.
Burger King employee
accused of stealing money
HAZLE TWP. — State police charged Leia Janeed Lisnock, 40, on allegations she stole money from the Hazleton-area Burger King where she was employed.
According to a criminal complaint:
Deborah Ann Drust, general manager at the North Church Street restaurant, told troopers Feb. 5 she suspected Lisnock of stealing money. Drust claimed she discovered $343 in cash was missing and only she and Lisnock had keys to a safe.
When Drust confronted Lisnock, Drust told troopers Lisnock apologized and asked her not to call police.
Drust also learned Lisnock stole eight employee paychecks from a desk and cashed several of the checks.
Lisnock, of Alter Street, Hazleton, was arraigned Tuesday by District Judge Brian Tupper in Luzerne County Central Court on nine counts of theft and four counts of forgery. She was released on $15,000 unsecured bail.