Ashland man
jailed for theft
MINERSVILLE — An Ashland man was jailed after being arrested by Minersville police on felony theft charges after an incident on June 21 at the Dollar General.
Stanley J. Petrovich, 74, of 1000 Fountain St., was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko on a felony retail theft charge along with misdemeanor offenses of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.
He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $10,000 bail.
Police said Petrovich was taken into custody after he was caught stealing a skillet valued at $26.50.
A criminal history check determined the man had eight prior retail theft convictions as well as a long criminal history including theft and fraud-related charges.
Minersville man
faces charges
MINERSVILLE — Minersville police filed charges against a borough man after an assault about 8 p.m. July 3 to the rear of his 328 Cherry St. home.
Police said Justin J. Schwalm, 22, was charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor offenses of simple assault, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Police said officers went to the scene after receiving a report of a 911 hang-up call and found Schwalm agitated and demanding to hear the Schuylkill County Communications Center recording of the call.
Officers entered Schwalm’s home but he followed them while screaming that they could not just walk in and yelling obscenities, police said.
Schwalm then told the officer that he was a wrestler and that the officer’s badge would not protect him.
When it was determined a juvenile placed the call, a warning was issued and when the officer exited the home Schwalm began yelling threats and profanities and caused a disturbance, police said.
When Schwalm was told to go back into the house, police said he spit smokeless tobacco into the officer’s face and then resisted being taken into custody trying to hit the officer with a closed fist.
Another Minersville officer arrived at the scene, along with Cass Township police, and Schwalm was eventually taken into custody after a Taser was used on him, police said.
3-vehicle crash
leaves 2 injured
JONESTOWN — Two people suffered minor injuries in a three-vehicle crash that occurred about 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at Route 72 and New Bunker Hill Road in Swatara Township, Lebanon County.
State police at Jonestown said Cara Orihuela, 32, of Palmyra, was driving a 1994 Ford F-150 west from Thompson Avenue onto Bunker Hill Road when she entered Route 72 and stuck a 2004 Toyota Camry driven by Stephanie J. Snyder, 52, of Pine Grove.
After impact, the Orihuela vehicle continued and struck a 2013 Nissan Rogue driven by Kristin Brubaker, 35, of Jonestown, who had come to a complete stop.
After hitting the Brubaker vehicle, police said the Orihuela truck continued along the road and came to a final stop in the yard of a residence.
Both Orihuela and Snyder suffered minor injuries, while Brubaker was not hurt, police said, adding that Orihuela will be cited as a result of the crash.
New Ringgold
man hit by truck
NEW RINGGOLD — A New Ringgold man suffered a cut on his left elbow after being struck by a pickup truck while riding a mountain bike about 3 p.m. Wednesday in the area of 2487 Summer Valley Road, Route 895, in East Brunswick Township.
State police at Frackville said Michael Kemmerer, 25, of Tamaqua, was driving a 2001 GMC 3500 pickup truck west approaching a bicycle driven by Harry Zaprazny, 44.
The passenger’s side of the truck struck Zaprazny, throwing him off his bicycle and onto the grass, police said.
Zaprazny refused medical transport to a hospital by New Ringgold EMS and Pottsville-Schuylkill Haven Area EMS, police said, adding that Kemmerer will be cited for overtaking a vehicle on the left.
Police pick up
wanted man
MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police on patrol about 7 p.m. Tuesday picked up a borough man knowing he was wanted on an outstanding bench warrant for failing to appear earlier in Schuylkill County Court.
Police said officers saw Michael A. Gulak, no age available, of 1113 E. South St., in the 300 block of East Railroad Street and took him into custody.
Prior to being placed handcuffs, police said officers found him with a drawstring bag that contained two multicolor glass bowls, commonly used for smoking controlled substances, with burnt residue on them.
In addition to the active warrant, police said a new charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was filed against the man.
Woman faces
drug charges
MAHANOY CITY — A Mahanoy City woman was charged with drug offenses after an incident about 12:25 a.m. July 6 in the borough.
Mahanoy City police charged Kimberly S. Blashock, 51, of 638 E. Market St., with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and misbranding of medications or prescriptions.
Police said officers were watching a house that was under investigation for narcotics violations and saw Blashock walk onto the porch and commit a hand-to-hand transaction with a man.
Blashock then left the home and was stopped a short distance away and, during a search she consented to, was found to be in possession of green leafy matter that tested positive for marijuana inside a folded up piece of paper in her purse, along with a pill that was identified as carisoprodol.
Back at the police station, officers said Blashock said she was getting a bowl full of marijuana for a friend.
Police investigate
crash in city
Pottsville police investigated a crash that occurred about 1:20 p.m. Wednesday at Howard Avenue and South Centre Street.
Police said Amanda Swartzlander, 23, of Pottsville, was driving east on Howard Avenue when her brakes failed, causing her to hit a vehicle stopped in front of her driven by Elizabeth Snowell, 47, of Pottsville.
The impact caused the Snowell to travel forward and hit a vehicle driven by William Kirwin, 55, of Orwigsburg, who was stopped at Howard Avenue and Centre Street.
No injuries were reported and police said the Swartzlander and Snowell vehicles were towed from the scene.
Swartzlander’s vehicle was found to be out of inspection, and police said she will be cited for an inspection violation.
Police investigate
sidewalk theft
SELTZER — Police are investigating a theft from the sidewalk in from of a home in Norwegian Township.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Theresa Shermeta, Seltzer, reported that the off-white Frigidaire air conditioner she placed on the sidewalk outside 133 Main St. was stolen between 10:10 and 10:15 p.m. Monday.
Shermeta said she put it there because it was freezing up, police said, adding that a woman picked it up and left with it.
Those with information about the incident are asked to call state police at Schuylkill Haven at 570-739-1330.