Police arrest 3
in investigation
Three people were arrested by Pottsville police in connection with a burglary at 210 Schuylkill Ave. that was reported about 6:10 p.m. June 27.
Officers learned a man and woman had been seen leaving the property carrying plastic totes, and the investigation determined numerous articles of women's and children's clothing and shoes had been stolen.
Although a witness provided descriptions of the two, they could not be located.
Two days later, on June 29, police said officers on patrol in the unit block of North Second Street came in contact with two people matching the descriptions - Lee Walkusky Jr., 18, of Saint Clair, and a 16-year-old girl.
During an interview with Walkusky, police said information was obtained that Jasmine Steinheiser, 18, of Pottsville, was involved in the burglary and follow up investigations based on the new information led officers to Stephen Weiss, 305 Howard Ave.
Police said Weiss allowed officers to search his home, where several totes were found in the basement containing clothing and shoes stolen from the Schuylkill Avenue home.
Inside the Weiss home, officers also found Steinheiser in a second-floor bedroom. During her initial contact with officers, the woman made a spontaneous utterance admitting to having committed the burglary with Walkusky, police said.
A subsequent interview with Walkusky resulted in him admitting to being personally involved in the burglary with Steinheiser. Officers also learned that Anna Marie Reedy, 42, of Pottsville, had originally entered the victim's home illegally during the night on or about June 25. Although the two did not take anything at that time, police said they conspired to commit the actual burglary on June 27.
On June 29, Reedy was taken into custody, and she and Walkusky and Steinheiser were arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.
Kilker set bail at $25,000 straight cash each for Steinheiser and Walkusky on charges of felony burglary, felony conspiracy and criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property.
Reedy was charged with one count of criminal trespass and Kilker set bail at $15,000 straight cash, police said.
All three will now have to appear for preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.
2 face charges
in ATV theft
Pottsville police charged two men in connection with the theft of a 2002 Yamaha Blaster ATV that occurred between 9 p.m. June 28 and 6 p.m. June 29.
The theft, police said, was reported about 6:30 p.m. June 29, but officers had already seized the vehicle during a separate incident on June 28 prior to it being reported.
Patrol officers investigated a suspicious incident in the 100 block of West Market Street involving two men pushing an ATV into a business parking lot.
The men, identified as Matthew M. Mabus, 22, of Fleetwood, and Byron D. Scheuring, 22, of Pottsville, had a black and white Yamaha Blaster that had no ignition and two wires twisted together, police said.
Mabus said the vehicle was his and that he purchased it on Craig's list from a person in Philadelphia, police said, adding that Mabus told officers he had the paperwork showing ownership but could not produce it at that time.
Mabus, police said, told officers he was storing the ATV in a local garage but did not know the address and could not show where it was located.
Mabus was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from another department, and the ATV impounded due to suspicious nature of the incident and lack of positive identification of the rightful owner.
Police said that when Scheuring was interviewed, he said he waited for Mabus at Yuengling Bicentennial Park, 10th and Mahantongo streets, earlier that day and that Mabus arrived riding an ATV south on 10th Street.
From there, Scheuring said he helped Mabus push the ATV until officers stopped the two, police said.
Police also said Mabus later claimed to have no knowledge where the ATV had come from or who the rightful owner actually was.
After receiving the stolen vehicle report, criminal complaints were filed with Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley charging both Mabus and Scheuring with felony conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property.
Shenandoah man
faces drug charges
SHENANDOAH - A borough man is free on bail after he was found with drugs when picked up on an outstanding domestic relations warrant about 10 p.m. July 3 in the 100 block of South Main Street.
Police said Jesus A. Santos, 113 N. West St., was arraigned Monday on charges of possession of a counterfeit substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and contraband.
He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $15,000 bail but released Tuesday after posting bond.
Police said on July 3, their department was notified that Santos was wanted on an outstanding domestic relations warrant.
About 10 p.m. that day, Patrolman Tyler Dissinger saw Santos near the Oyster Bar on South Main Street, asked him to come to the patrol car and then advised the man he was being taken into custody on the active warrant.
Santos complied, and a subsequent search revealed he was in possession of an open package of synthetic marijuana marked "Geeked Up."
The man was then taken to Schuylkill County Prison and, while enroute, told Dissinger he had "dope" on him.
Police said that on the prison lot and prior to entering the sally port, Santos was searched again and found with 10 baggies of heroin in his underwear.
Police report
aggressive driving
State police at the Frackville and Schuylkill Haven stations reported details of their aggressive driving enforcement activities conducted during the Fourth of July holiday period.
Police made 11 DUI arrests, issued 202 speeding citations, 10 child passenger citations, 24 seatbelt citations, 26 seatbelt warnings and 198 other citations.
A total of 10 crashes were investigated, including two alcohol-related crashes that resulted in three injuries.
3 not hurt in
2-vehicle crash
Three people escaped injury Monday afternoon in a two-vehicle accident on Route 61 at Tunnel Road in Norwegian Township, police said.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Scott T. Salow, 53, of Pottsville, was driving north on Route 61 at 5:06 p.m. in a 2001 Subaru Outback when he approached the intersection with Tunnel Road.
As Salow, who had a green light, drove through the intersection, a Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck being driven by Robert P. Leary, 45, of Mahanoy City, tried to turn left from the southbound lanes of Route 61 onto Tunnel Road, police said. Leary's truck hit Salow's car in Salow's lane of travel, with both vehicles coming to rest along the northbound shoulder of Route 61, according to police.
Leary, Salow and Salow's passenger, Kelly S. Pursell, 56, of Pottsville, all were wearing lap and shoulder belts and were unhurt, police said.
Police said they will charge Leary, whose truck had to be towed from the scene, will be charged with making an improper left turn.
Police probe
missing rifle
BROCKTON - State police at Frackville are investigating the theft of a rifle from a truck parked at a man's home in this Schuylkill Township village.
Police said that between 10 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Monday, someone took a .22 caliber long rifle from a truck belonging to Brian Bahm, 71, of 343 Valley St.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.
Ringtown man
charged in attack
PATTERSONVILLE - A Ringtown man sits behind bars as the result of what police allege was a Tuesday evening assault against his wife as she held their granddaughter in Union Township.
George S. Beaver, 56, started arguing with Michele E. Beaver, 55, at 9:55 p.m. at 17 Jerrys Road, and the argument turned physical, according to state police at Frackville.
Police said George Beaver struck his wife several times in the face as she held their 11-month-old granddaughter.
Police charged George Beaver with simple assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of children. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of posting 10 percent, or $1,000, of $10,000 percentage bail.
Hale scheduled Beaver's preliminary hearing for noon July 18.
Pine Grove man
faces DUI charge
JONESTOWN - State police at Jonestown investigated a DUI-related crash that occurred about 9:30 p.m. Wednesday on Route 72, in the area of Adams Auto Sales in Swatara Township, Lebanon County.
Police said Shawn Bonawitz, 27, of Pine Grove, was driving a car north when he swerved, went off the road and struck a utility pole. As a result of the collision, a nearby house caught fire, but the flames were quickly contained by firefighters, police said.
Bonawitz was suspected of being under the influence and refused to take a blood test, resulting in a charge of DUI.
Police said Route 72 was closed for about four hours while crews repaired the damaged pole.