A West Penn Township police sergeant charged with lying about being assaulted by a man along Route 309 in September is among those scheduled to plead not guilty Thursday during arraignment in Schuylkill County Court.
Melissa M. Ruch, 41, of 362 Archery Club Road, New Ringgold, was arrested by state police criminal investigator Trooper Edward Lizewski of the Frackville station and charged with one count of false alarms to agencies of public safety and three counts of false reports.
Lizewski filed the charges in connection with an incident about 5 p.m. Sept. 2, 2015, near the top of the Blue Mountain. He said Ruch falsely reported that she had been in an altercation with a motorist and had to fire her Taser at him.
Ruch was found at the bottom of an embankment but did not remember how she got there, according to Lizewski.
A subsequent investigation determined the sergeant’s Taser was not fired at the time she claimed the assault occurred and multiple witnesses went against claims made by Ruch about a vehicle she claimed to have pulled behind alongside the highway.
Others scheduled to plead not guilty, and the charges against them, include:
Thomas R. Zemanik, 54, of 107 Clay St., Tamaqua — DUI, DUI-highest rate, careless driving and accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles.
Richard W. Eltringham, 50, of 114 Schuylkill Ave., Shenandoah — DUI, DUI-highest rate and violation of general lighting requirements.
Brent D. Wylie, 21, of 401 Minersville St., Box 4139, Seltzer — DUI-controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Jerry Dannenhower, 48, of 303 Haven St., Schuylkill Haven — driving under the influence of drugs, DUI, possession of a controlled/counterfeit substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and careless driving.
Deborah A. Kramer, 49, of 415 St. Francis St., Minersville — acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy.
Virginia M. Vesay, 61, of 409 St. Francis St., Minersville — unauthorized medical practice, acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy.
Jessie L. Vesay, 27, of 409 St. Francis St., Minersville — acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy.
Taylor A. Bowers, 22, of 80 N. Maple St., Pottsville — obstructing the administration of law and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Wayne V. Kechula, 42, of 115 W. Rock St., Shenandoah — terroristic threats and harassment.
Vanessa D. Crawley, 23, of 371 W. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville — false reports and unsworn falsification to authorities.
Jared T. Stessalavage, 28, of 636 W. Market St., Orwigsburg — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lance T. Reis, 32, of 209 Walnut St., Minersville — theft by deception and bad checks.
Nathaniel W. Rivera, 18, of 258 Creek Drive, Auburn — possession of a controlled substance.
Amanda J. Krammes, 36, of 1348 W. Maple St., Box 31, Valley View — theft of leased property and receiving stolen property.
Lisa M. Geist, 38, of 818 Grant St., Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.
Gabrielle A. Accordino, 24, of 118 Red Church Road, Apt. 2, Auburn — bad checks.
Corey M. McCabe, 41, of 808 N. Third St., Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance.
Darlene M. Acor, 50, of 207 W. Market St., Apt. 2C, Box 445, Pottsville — simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Amber L. Faust, 28, of 10 E. Liberty St., Schuylkill Haven — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.
Shannon K. Reed, 33, of 711 Mine St., Apt. 1, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.
Drai F. Miller, 24, of 3 N. Second St., Apt. 2, Pottsville — simple assault.
Tara N. Keim, 30, of 19 Walnut St., Ashland — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.
Amber A. Menne, 27, of 1706 Centre St., Ashland — simple assault and conspiracy.
Robert J. Barlow, 34, of 790 Fountain St., Ashland — unauthorized use of automobiles.
Tyler J. Swantek, 23, of 443 N. Third St., Frackville — theft.
Christopher M. Brown, 34, of 1301 W. Penn St., Shenandoah — theft and receiving stolen property.
Robert E. Miller, 57, of 789 High Road, Ashland — simple assault.
Belinda J. Simmons, 38, of 200 Hobart St., Box 194, Gordon — tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Alfonso Rosas Delgado, 51, of 129 N. Main St., Shenandoah — violations concerning licenses, false identification to law enforcement, driving at an unsafe speed, following too closely, careless driving, failure to be licensed and altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates.
Candice Malacusky, 21, of 110 W. Penn St., Shenandoah — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
John R. Najunas Jr., 26, of 402 1/2 W. Oak St., Shenandoah — tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
Mark A. Wise, 44, of 133 Reservoir Road, Ringtown — simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct.
Carlos J. Vega Sr., 50, of 234 Hazle St., Box 150, Nuremberg — theft, receiving stolen property, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and harassment.
Jeifri J. Graciano-Suazo, 25, of 124 N. Chestnut St., Shenandoah — obstructing the administration of law, hindering apprehension or prosecution and disorderly conduct.
Joseph A. Lumia, 20, of 431 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City — possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, failure to be licensed, driving an unregistered vehicle and careless driving.
Ashley M. McCullough, 27, of 23 Coal St., Middleport — retail theft.
Kevin J. Strahm, 35, of 509 E. Colliery Ave., Tower City — theft by deception and bad checks.
Annmarie S. Fetterolf, 22, of 222 Carbon St., Minersville — access device fraud.
Mercedes M. Alexander, 19, of 148 Draper St., Gilberton — robbery, conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, simple assault and disorderly conduct.
Heather M. Arias-Maravilla, 38, of 18 N. Second St., Apt., 3, Minersville — robbery, conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property and simple assault.
Angie L. Porter, 19, of 6 N. 11th St., Pottsville — retail theft.
Christine L. Slate, 47, of 301 Lewis St., Minersville — tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Breanna J. Phillips, 23, of 1400 Laurel Blvd., Pottsville — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Katrina M. Fowler, 24, of 240 N. Nice St., Frackville — possession of drug paraphernalia.
Paul D. Compinski Jr., 31, of 538 N. Centre St., Pottsville — false alarms to agencies of public safety, communications with 911 and false reports.
Richard J. Willie, 25, of 240 N. Nice St., Frackville — possession of drug paraphernalia.
Daniel J. Merva, 24, of 74 Weston Place, Shenandoah — simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.
Dennis W. Helfrich, 44, of 318 E. Union St., Tamaqua, and 409 W. Broad St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua — retail theft and receiving stolen property.
Terrance Love, 52, of 27 Mauch Chunk St., Tamaqua — terroristic threats and simple assault.
Angela M. Kramer, 23, of 37 High Road, Tamaqua — acquiring or obtaining a controlled substance by misrepresentation, possession of a controlled substance and conspiracy.