Texas woman arrested after crash
A Texas woman was recently charged as a fugitive of justice following a one-vehicle crash that occurred on Dec. 22 on State Route 220 in Albany Township.
According to state police, April May Mendoza, 38, was a passenger in a vehicle crash to which police responded. She was discovered to have an active warrant out of the Harris County Sheriff's Department of Texas and taken into custody. Vincent Tamez, 42, of Houston, Texas, was the driver of the vehicle and was charged with crossing the center line of traffic.
Mendoza was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark and transferred to the Bradford County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail.
Woman faces harassment charges
According to state police, a 19-year-old Wyalusing woman faces charges of harassment following a verbal argument that turned physical on Dec. 24 in Wyalusing. Police say the woman pushed a 32-year-old male victim, causing him to fall onto a coffee table.
Money stolen in Towanda
According to state police, between the times of 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. on Dec. 19, two Towanda women, ages 57 and 72, left money on their garbage bags for the garbage men for the holidays. The victims reported shortly after, the money was taken off of the bags. Anyone with information is asked to contact the state police at (570) 265-2186.
Towanda man charged after traffic stop
A Towanda man faces charges of arrest prior to requisition and resisting arrest after an incident on Dec. 20 in Towanda Township.
According to police, Jared Duane Meador, 19, was halted as part of a traffic stop. After further investigation police determined that Meador had an active criminal warrant. Meador then resisted when police attempted to arrest him.
Man uninjured in Tuscarora crash
According to state police, Johnathan Prevost, 22, of Meshoppen was driving north on Clapper Hill Road in Tuscarora Township when he lost control of his 2013 Chevrolet Silverado due to snow and ice, causing it to roll over onto its passenger side down an embankment. Prevost was using his seatbelt at the time of the crash and no charges were filed.
Cash reward offered for arrest in missing gun case
According to state police, a 53-year-old Ulster man recently had a 380 pistol stolen from his residence between 8 p.m. on Dec. 3 and noon on Dec. 4. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at (570) 265-2186 or 800-4-PA-TIPS. A cash reward, up to $2,000, is being offered if information results in an arrest.
Harassment occurs in North Towanda
According to state police, harassment charges have been filed for Christopher Hamlett, 26, of Ashland, after he allegedly punched and pulled the hair of a 21-year-old Ulster woman during an incident that occurred on Dec. 23 in North Towanda Township.
Two vehicle crash results in charges for Wyoming man
A Wyoming man was charged after he pulled in front of an Ulster man on Dec. 23 in Rome.
According to state police, Adam Henderson, 21, was making a left turn with his 1998 GMC Sierra at the intersection of Taylor Hill Road and Rome Road and was struck by the 1994 Dodge Shadow driven by Ryan Morse, 26. Henderson was charged with failing to obey a stop sign. Neither of the men were injured as a result of the crash.
Minor injury reported in Burlington crash
The driver of a 2000 Jeep Cherokee suffered minor injuries and was charged following a one vehicle crash that occurred on Dec. 16 on State Route 6 in Burlington Township.
According to state police, Erica Parkhurst, 25, of Wysox was attempting to negotiate a left-hand curve on State Route 6 approximately one quarter of a mile east of Madigan Road when she lost control of her vehicle, causing it to overturn.
Memorial EMS responded to the crash and transported Parkhurst and two passengers, a 5-year-old female and a 4-year-old male, to Memorial Hospital in Towanda. Parkhurst was wearing her seatbelt and both passengers were restrained in child safety seats prior to the crash.
Man accused of harassment in Terry Township
A Terry Township man has been cited with harassment following an incident that occurred on Dec. 22 in Terry Township.
According to state police, Kurt Smith, 48, was involved an argument with a 39-year-old woman when he grabbed her by the throat and hit her with a curtain rail. Smith is also accused of slapping an 11-year-old female during the argument.
Towanda woman charged with DUI
Colleen Rought, 57, of Towanda faces charges of driving under the influence following a traffic stop that occurred on Dec. 12 in Rome Township, according to state police. Police observed signs of intoxication during the stop, placed Rought under arrest and transported her to Memorial Hospital in Towanda for a legal blood draw.
Driver passed out in vehicle arrested for DUI
On Dec. 19, officers with the Athens Borough Police Department arrested Vicki L. McSparron, 46, of Athens, for DUI related charges as well as resisting arrest for kicking an officer.
Police responded to a residence in Athens Borough for a report of a woman passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle, which was parked in the vegetation on the east side of a home. A witness called 911 to report they saw McSparron arrive home in her vehicle and pass out near her driveway.
The officer arrived, subsequently awoke McSparron and asked her to perform a standard battery of field sobriety tests, which she failed. When the officer attempted to place McSparron under arrest she became combative and had to be physically lifted into the patrol car.
During the drive to the Athens Borough Police Station, McSparron attempted to use her cellphone. The officer pulled the vehicle over and asked her to give up the phone. As he attempted to take the phone from McSparron, she asked, "do you wanna go?," and attempted to kick the officer and the door of the patrol car.
McSparron was escorted to the station and charged with DUI: general impairment, DUI: highest rate of alcohol, and resisting arrest. She is set to face these charges at a preliminary arraignment with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw on Jan. 2, 2015.
Domestic incident leads to arrest
Officers with the Sayre Borough Police Department reported the arrest of Denitta A. Alteri, 44, of Sayre, for assault, harassment and obstruction after responding to a call for an active physical domestic disturbance on South Elmer Avenue on Dec. 4.
Upon arrival, officers found Alteri in the doorway of the apartment, blocking entry into the residence. The officer could hear a male inside, upset and asking for an ambulance. Officers asked Alteri to move several times and she refused to comply. She stood with her arms crossed, fists clenched and stared past the officers during their multiple commands to comply.
At this time, an officer took Alteri by the arm and forcibly removed her from the doorway to allow entry as Alteri continued to deny entry and became combative with the officer.
Alteri was subsequently arrested for domestic violence and interfering with the officer. Her charges are as follows: simple assault, harassment and obstruction of law enforcement. She will face these charges at a preliminary hearing at a later date.
Man arrested after domestic dispute
Officers with the Sayre Borough Police Department reported the arrest of 30-year-old Sayre resident Jason M. Bergquist for several charges related to a domestic dispute involving injury.
Officers arrived to a residence on Division Street after a 911 call and spoke to a female victim who had been obviously physically attacked.
The victim had several red marks and contusions visible to the officer and explained that her boyfriend, Bergquist had beaten her and left the area. During the investigation of the incident, officers found a glass pipe with burnt residue, commonly used to ingest narcotics. The victim relayed that the item belonged to Bergquist. Officers also found two juvenile females, locked in a bathroom of the residence. The two girls had called 911 when Bergquist began attacking the victim and barricaded themselves in the bathroom. At one point during the incident, Bergquist had attempted to break down the door by kicking it.
Officers were able to locate Bergquist and he was charged with aggravated assault, attempted simple assault, two counts of simple assault by menace, harassment, three counts of reckless endangerment, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was arraigned on Dec. 7 and received $10,000 bail. His case was transferred to the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas and he will return to court on Jan. 15, 2015.
Terroristic threat charges filed
On Dec. 22, Pennsylvania State Troopers reported the arrest of 37-year-old Marcus J. Shanks of Huntersville, N.C., after an incident which occurred at the Wyalusing Chamber of Commerce on Main Street, Wyalusing.
Troopers reported that Shanks arrived at the business to see a female victim and subsequently assaulted and threatened to kill she and a second victim. Shanks was located at a separate location and arrested. He was charged with two counts of terroristic threats and one count of harassment. Shanks was prearraigned on Dec. 19 by Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton and was remanded to the Bradford County Correctional Facility in lieu of $150,000 bail.
He is awaiting a preliminary hearing on Dec. 30, with Judge Wheaton to answer to the charges.
Unlawful driver leads charges
While on patrol on Dec. 6, officers with the Athens Borough Police Department observed a vehicle driving on North Main Street with their high beams on. The officers further observed six passengers in a vehicle which only permits five, by law.
The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle and identified the driver as a 17-year-old female, who has never been issued a driver's license. He then observed another 17-year-old sitting on the center console in the vehicle, which is not made to be sat on and has no safety restraint.
During the investigation of the incident, officers found marijuana, a homemade marijuana smoking device, a glass pipe and an empty beer can in the inside of the vehicle. Due to the evidence, Haley M. Chacona, 19-year-old Gillett resident, and owner of the vehicle, was identified in the rear of the vehicle and charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and permitting an unauthorized person to drive. She is set to face these charges at a preliminary hearing with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw on Jan. 6, 2015.
DUI arrest made
On Nov. 15, officers reported the arrest of Jeffery K. Frisbie, 22, of Gillett, for DUI charges in response to an emergency call regarding a suspicious vehicle on Wolcott Hollow Road in Athens Township.
Upon arrival, Athens Township police officers located the vehicle, driven by Frisbie, sitting in the berm area and in a ditch on the north side of Wolcott Hollow Road. The vehicle was running and there was a single white male, Frisbie, asleep in the driver's seat.
The officer woke Frisbie, who was determined by the officer to be heavily under the influence of alcohol. At this time, he was placed under arrest and subsequently charged with DUI: highest rate of alcohol and DUI: general impairment. He is set to face these charges at a preliminary hearing on Jan. 2, 2015 with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.
Motor vehicle accident leads to DUI arrest
On Nov. 5, officers with the Athens Township Police Department responded to a two vehicle accident on Elmira Street involving a female driver who attempted to flee the scene prior to police arrival.
During the investigation of the incident, several witnesses stated that a vehicle, driven by Michele Y. Burt, 49, of Sayre, attempted to make a turn in front of a second vehicle, causing the impact.
As the officer interviewed Burt, he noticed an odor of alcohol emitting from her person. A preliminary breath test administered indicated a blood alcohol content of over the legal limit.
Burt was subsequently placed under arrest for DUI: highest rate of alcohol, DUI: general impairment, and vehicle turning left. She is set to face these charges at a preliminary hearing on Jan. 2, 2015, with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.
Man strikes fire hydrant
On Dec. 13, officers with the Sayre Borough Police Department reported the arrest of 26-year-old Charles R. Miner III of Waverly after several witnesses reported an out of control vehicle that struck several vehicles and a fire hydrant and several parked cars.
Witnesses called Bradford County dispatch to report they had followed a Jeep, found to be driven by Miner, to a residence on Summit Street after observing the vehicle strike a fire hydrant on the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Pitney Street. The vehicle then continued to drive and nearly hit several vehicles head on before stopping outside a residence on Summit Street.
Police arrived and spoke with the residents who told them Miner had just walked in the home and asked for his father because he "had messed up bad."
At first, Miner told police the damage to his vehicle occurred in August of 2013. Officers pointed out fresh damage as well as antifreeze leaking from the radiator. Miner was asked to perform a standard battery of field sobriety tests, which he failed.
He was then placed under arrest for offenses related to driving while intoxicated, including: careless driving, reckless driving, DUI: general impairment, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicle, failure to stop or yield and driving, on the right side of the roadway. He was arraigned on Dec. 13 by Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark and received $10,000 bail. Miner waived his right to preliminary hearing and will face these charges in the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas on Jan. 13, 2015 at a formal arraignment.