Rush Twp. police
release reports
HOMETOWN — Rush Township Police reported the arrests are pending stemming from several recent incidents in their coverage area.
Police said April McGeehan, 28, of Coaldale, is facing charges of retail theft and receiving stolen property after she stolen merchandise valued at $356.01 from Wal-Mart about 10:30 p.m. Saturday. The woman was also found to be in possession of heroin and needles, police said.
An incident at Wal-Mart on Feb. 18 led to charges against two women. Police said Bobbie Jo Hepler, 29, of Freeland, is facing charges of retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy for taking items valued at $550. Stemming from the same incident, police said, Samantha Whitehead, 30, of West Hazleton, will be charged with conspiracy.
In yet another incident, police said Michael Cox, 36, of Tamaqua, was arraigned on charges of unsworn falsification to police after an incident about 7:45 p.m. Feb. 15. Police said Cox was wanted by state parole agents, was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post bail.
Four people will also be charged stemming from incidents at Wal-Mart.
Police said Stephen J. Martonick Jr., 29, of Drums, will he charged with retail theft for taking items from the store about 11:44 p.m. Feb. 13. This was the second theft Martonick committed that day and the total merchandise taken was $148, police said.
On Feb. 10, police said, Brandi Benjamin, 25, of Schuylkill Haven, was caught stealing items valued at $108.22 and will be charged with retail theft.
The day prior, Feb. 9, police said Benjamin tried to steal items valued at $123, and will be charged with retail theft as well. In that same incident, police said Amber Faust, 28, of Schuylkill Haven, is facing retail theft charges for stealing items valued at $108.22.
Finally, police said they’re investigating an incident on Feb. 26 where an elderly man reportedly exposed himself to two women inside the store.
City man charged
for trespassing
A Pottsville man was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police stemming from an incident at 322 W. Race St., that was reported about 10:25 p.m. Sunday.
Police said officers were called to the area for a report of a man trespassing in a vacant home and while en route told the man entered through a coal chute window.
At the scene officers found broken glass on the sidewalk below a small window and subsequently found Samuel E. Pullins, 50, inside the home in a second floor bedroom.
Pullins was taken into custody and a criminal complaint was prepared charging him with felony criminal trespass.
In addition to the fact that Pullins was not a resident of the property, police said, there was also a clearly posted notice on the front entrance door by the City of Pottsville Code Enforcement and Health Departments prohibiting entrance into that address.
Pullins was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of 10 percent of $15,000 bail.