Police investigate
stolen vehicle
Pottsville police are investigating the theft of a vehicle that was reported to their department about 8:20 a.m. Monday when officers were called to Miller’s Reconditioning Shop at 215 Mauch Chunk St.
Police said their investigation revealed that about 7:30 a.m., someone drove off in a black 2013 Buick Verano that had been left running and unattended on the property of the business.
Police said the vehicle did not have a license plate affixed to it at the time it was stolen.
Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Pottsville Bureau of Police at 570-622-1234. Caller’s identity will be kept confidential if requested.
Woman crashes
car while asleep
SAINT CLAIR — A Mahanoy City woman escaped injury when the 2016 Chevrolet Traxx she was driving crashed about 3:15 a.m. Sunday on the Burma Road in Blythe Township.
State police at Frackville said Demetria A. Shemansik, 30, was driving north when she fell asleep and lost control, causing the vehicle to go onto the east berm of the road and hit a utility pole splitting the pole in two.
After hitting the pole, police said Shemansik’s vehicle rolled onto its roof and came to a stop on its roof facing south.
The woman will be charged with not driving on roadways laned for traffic, police said, adding that Saint Clair firefighters and EMS assisted at the scene.
Man vandalizes
woman’s car
GIRARDVILLE — A man from Mahanoy Plane spray painted the word “SCUM” on the side of a car in the borough, then detonated a firecracker near the windshield, causing $1,199.09 in damage on Feb. 19, state police at Frackville said Sunday.
The car, a 2000 Buick Century, is owned by Theresa Kulbitsky, Girardville, police said.
The incident occurred at 2 a.m. Feb. 19 in front of 105 N. Reed St. in Girardville. William Thomas Jr., 21, of Mahanoy Plane, vandalized the vehicle using orange spray paint. Then he placed an M-80 firecracker on the windshield and detonated it, police said.
The blast caused significant damage to the windshield, cowl, wipers and hood. The total pecuniary loss was $1,199.09, police said.
Police charged Thomas with a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, and it was filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, police said.
Police investigate
hit-and-run crash
HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg are investigating a pedestrian hit-and-run crash that occurred about 3:25 a.m. Saturday on Route 61, just north of Birch Hill Road in Perry Township, Berks County.
Police said James R. Watts, 45, of Hamburg, was struck from behind while walking north along the shoulder of the road by what was described as a purple passenger car that immediately fled the area.
At the scene, police said they found purple debris from the front bumper as well as a broken headlight lense.
Watts, who dialed 911 from the scene, was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital for treatment of a severely broken leg, a broken arm and head injuries, police said.
Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the hit-and-run vehicle or the identity of the driver is asked to call police at 610-562-6885.
Woman suffers
injuries in crash
CRESSONA — State police at Schuylkill Haven believe a Pottsville woman suffered a minor injury in a two-vehicle accident in North Manheim Township on Wednesday, police said Sunday.
At 6:44 p.m. Wednesday, Maureen T. Adams, 73, of Pottsville, was driving a 2010 Toyota Corolla south on state Route 61 when she struck the back of a 1990 Toyota Corolla stopped at a red light, police said.
The driver of the stopped vehicle was Edward T. McGuire, 58, of Holtsville, New York, and his passenger was Jacqueline A. McGuire, 54, of Holtsville, New York, police said.
Police were assisted by Schuylkill EMS and Schuylkill Hose Company 2. Police charged Adams with careless driving, police said.
Two charged
with retail theft
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven charged two women with retail theft for an incident Friday afternoon at Redner’s Warehouse Markets in North Manheim Township, police said Sunday.
At 5:17 p.m. Friday, Malea Schoffstall, 22, of Minersville, and Heather Heckman, 24, of Pottsville, were at the store at 191 Manheim Road. Schoffstall was drinking a 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi she took from the store, then left the store without paying for the drink, police said.
When state police arrived, Schoffstall provided a false name and date of birth. When she eventually revealed her correct name, police found she had several warrants out for her arrest, police said.
Meanwhile, Heckman had been arrested Nov. 15, 2015, for retail theft and was banned from the store, police said. Heckman was charged with criminal trespass, police said.