Retail theft occurs
Athens Township Police reported the arrest of Mary E. Brennan, 51, of Athens, on Nov. 10, for the offense of retail theft. Brennan was detained by employees at the Sayre Walmart after she was witnessed taking over $200 worth of items from the store without payment. This is the third such offense for Brennan since 1983, which allowed her to be charged with felony retail theft over the misdemeanor. She was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton and received $1,000 unsecured bail. She will return to face the charge at a preliminary hearing scheduled for 8 a.m. Dec. 16 with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.
Theft against elderly reported
On Nov. 6, Athens Borough Police officers charged 25-year-old Sayre resident Ashley A. Fenchel with one count of theft by unlawful taking. The charges stem from a report in October by a representative from the Area Agency on Aging. The complaint stated that Fenchel was performing duties as an aide to an elderly woman. After Fenchel left the residence, the woman realized she was missing a large amount of money. The AAA representative was present when the money was obtained from the bank and the victim reported she had not been anywhere to spend the money. Fenchel was approached about the theft and according to the statement prepared by police she was "deceptive" and at "no point during the interview did she state that she did not take the money or deny taking the money." There have been previous reported complaints regarding Fenchel taking money without consent.
Fenchel was arrested and charged with theft by unlawful taking. She is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing on this matter to be held Dec. 9 with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.
Wife calls police after husband crashes her car
Pennsylvania State Police responded to an emergency call regarding a one vehicle accident on Ghent Hill Road in Sheshequin Township on Oct. 6. Upon arrival to the scene, troopers found a grey Hyundai Elantra in a field off a south roadside ditch with no occupants inside.
Running the license plate, troopers identified and called the registered owner, who relayed to authorities that she owned the vehicle and her husband was driving. She explained to officers that her husband, Millard J. Decker, 37, of Ulster, came home on foot and told her that he had wrecked her car, so she called police. When Decker learned of the call to police, he fled the residence.
Troopers were able to contact Decker via telephone and he agreed to meet with them regarding the incident. When asked what had caused him to go off the road and crash, Decker responded that "he just fell asleep at the wheel and didn't remember much else." Upon speaking with Decker, troopers detected an odor of alcohol and he was asked to perform a field sobriety test. The tests were not performed to a satisfactory conclusion and Decker was placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI.
He was later charged with DUI: general impairment; DUI: highest rate of alcohol and careless driving. Decker is set to face these charges with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw on Jan. 2.
DUI crash reported
On Sept. 15, Pennsylvania State Police responded to a reported two vehicle crash on State Route 187, just south of State Route 487 in Rome Township. Upon arriving at the scene of the accident, troopers found Joseph Mayberry, 65, of Rome, to be operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol.
Mayberry was subsequently arrested and charged with DUI: General impairment, DUI: highest rate; accident involving damage, disregard traffic lane, driving at safe speed, careless driving, reckless driving and failure to stop and give information or render aid. He is set to answer to these charges on Dec. 5 with a preliminary hearing with Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton.
K-mart reports theft
On Oct. 30, Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to the K-mart shopping center in Wysox Township for a report of retail theft. On arrival, troopers found Jennifer S. Johnson, 40, of Monroeton, in possession of several items of unpaid merchandise. The total value of the items was $171.83.
Johnson was arrested and charged with one count of retail theft. She will face the charge at a preliminary hearing with Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton on Dec. 2.
Possession of heroin results in arrest
Pennsylvania State Troopers responded to a call regarding a male in possession of suspected heroin in a home at the American Model Homes trailer court on July 23. During the incident, the victim reported that he entered the bathroom of his residence and found 21-year-old Jordan N. Frisbie of Waverly, "loading up a syringe." At that time, the victim told Frisbie to get out of his home and Frisbie "took off" and left the needle and dirty spoon in the residence.
The needle and tablespoon were recovered by troopers who field tested the substance on the spoon which positively identified as heroin.
Frisbie was initially interviewed on Aug. 6 and relayed to officers that he was just preparing the drug kit for another individual because, "neither knew how to." He then admitted that the victim did enter the bathroom and saw him preparing the heroin.
Based on the statements and interviews conducted by the troopers, Frisbie has subsequently been arrested and charged with the use or possession of drug paraphernalia. He is set to face this charge on Dec. 2, with a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton.