One vehicle accident results in charge
Towanda State Police reported a one vehicle accident occurring on Dec. 14 on Brownback Road, just south of the Berwick Turnpike. A Pontiac Grand Am, driven by Kyle Mansueto, 23, of Granville Summit, slid off the roadway crashing into a tree before coming to rest. The crash resulted in airbag deployment and heavy front end damage. The vehicle was towed from the scene by JR's Towing and Mansueto was charged with failure to maintain tire equipment.
He will answer to the charges in non-traffic court at a later date.
Criminal mischief reported
A female resident on Leroy Mountain Road in Leroy Township reported to Pennsylvania State Police that someone had driven into her yard causing damage to her lawn on Dec. 11. State Police are looking into the report and anyone with information is asked to contact the Towanda barracks at 570-265-2186.
DUI crash results in charges
A Troy man is under arrest after a one vehicle accident occurring in the northbound lane of State Route 14 in Canton Township on Dec 2. Curtis Opdyke, 23, of Troy, lost control of the vehicle which left the road and subsequently rolled over four to five times in a field before finally coming to rest. According to Pennsylvania State Police the vehicle sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene by Canton Auto Body. Opdyke related to troopers that he was wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and suffered moderate injuries as a result of the impact. He was transported to the Troy hospital for medical treatment.
During the course of the investigation it was determined that Opdyke was driving under the influence of alcohol and later submitted to a legal blood draw which showed an illegal level of alcohol in his blood.
Opdyke was charged later with DUI general impairment. He will face these charges with Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton at a later date.
Windshield damaged
Sometime between Nov. 26 and Dec. 12, a female victim in Burlington Township reported an unknown person had caused damage to the windshield of a yellow Chevrolet Cavalier which was parked at the Wheels and Dealers Auto Repair Shop on the Berwick Turnpike. Anyone with information is urged to contact Pennsylvania State Police at 570-265-2186.
Burglary reported
Sometime between Dec. 4 and Dec. 6, a couple on Ulster Road in Smithfield Township reported to Pennsylvania State Police that several items were stolen from their residence. These items include jewelry, a green Yukon ranger night vision unit and several Nikon cameras. Anyone with information should contact the Pennsylvania State Police and reference incident number P05-0799389.
Indecent sexual contact reported
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating incidents reported to the Bradford County Children and Youth Services regarding indecent sexual contact with a minor juvenile female occurring on Dec. 13. Upon investigation, Timothy Oliver Jr., 18, of Monkey Run Road, South Creek Township, was arrested and arraigned before Magistrate Jonathan Wilcox and was subsequently committed to the Bradford County prison in lieu of $35,000 bail for the charge of indecent assault. He will return to face this charge at a later date.
Disorderly conduct
Pennsylvania State Police responded to an incident at the SRU school parking lot in Smithfield Township on Dec. 21 and charged Kory Sponheimer, 27, of Ulster, for doing burnouts and donuts in a silver Nissan Sentra. He was issued a summary offense for disorderly conduct and a citation was filed through Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.
Traffic stop results in DUI charge
Pennsylvania State Police initiated a traffic stop on Dec. 10 on State Route 6 at State Route 409 in Wyalusing Township on 74-year-old Maynard Smith of Wyalusing. Troopers reported that Smith was driving in the opposing travel lane on State Route 6, which cause the trooper to pull him over. During the course of the traffic stop Smith displayed signs of intoxication and impairment. He was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI and transported to Memorial Hospital in Towanda to submit to a legal blood draw.
Charges were later filed through Magisterial District Judge Timothy Wilcox's office for DUI: general impairment. Smith will return to court at a later date to plead to the charge.
One vehicle crash reported
Pennsylvania State Police responded to a one vehicle crash in Terry Township on Terrytown Mountain Road on Dec. 13. Upon their arrival, troopers found Devon L. Delamater, 20, of Wyalusing, who explained that he was traveling west on Terrytown Mountain Road and had swerved into a ditch on the north side of the roadway to avoid striking a vehicle which was traveling east. He reported wearing his safety belt at the time of the incident and was uninjured.
Retail theft reported
On Dec. 21 associates at Walmart notified Athens Township Police that they had an individual in custody who had committed the offense of retail theft and they would hold the person until police arrived. Police then found Kristy Lee Houseknecht, 26, of Athens, who, according to associates, had attempted to steal merchandise from the Walmart store.
Houseknecht was followed by an associate of the store and was observed placing several items of clothing into her purse and several items into the top of her cart in an attempt to keep them concealed. She eventually went to the self checkout where she bagged several items that were not paid for and proceeded out the doors with the stolen merchandise on the grocery end of the store. She was confronted about the stolen items and placed into custody by store employees.
At this time Athens Township Police informed Houseknecht that she was under arrest for retail theft and she would no longer be allowed on Walmart property. The value of the stolen items was $101.12.
Houseknecht will face this charge at a preliminary hearing with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw on Jan. 27.
Hindering apprehension charge filed
On Jan. 5, Athens Borough Police filed charges against Melissa Rose Houghtalen, 41, of Athens, after an incident occurring on Dec. 31 at her residence on Spruce Street in Athens.
Police reported that they received information that an individual wanted on an active felony warrant of arrest was located at her residence. Houghtalen then allowed officers to search the apartment at which time the individual was not located. She was then asked to notify police if the individual arrived at the residence and her failure to notify law-enforcement would result in charges for hindering apprehension.
After officers left the apartment they received a telephone call from a female stating that the individual they were looking for was present when police arrived and was hiding behind a bedroom door. Police returned to the apartment and the individual was located still hiding behind the master bedroom door.
Houghtalen told officers that she didn't know the individual was inside her apartment the whole time because she did not have her glasses on. She was subsequently charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution by harbor or concealment. She was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw and received non-monetary bail.
Access device fraud reported
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating an incident of access device fraud via the theft of credit card and banking information. On Dec. 21 a victim in Litchfield Township reported that an unknown individual had used her Visa credit card information to rent a room at the Holiday Inn of Stratford City, London, England, for three nights, totaling $567.41. The investigation into this incident is ongoing.
Fraudulent charges to debit card made
On Dec. 25, Pennsylvania State Police were called to investigate a report of access device fraud by a victim on Ghent Hill Road in Sheshequin Township. The victim reported she discovered fraudulent charges made to her Visa debit card. The investigation determined an unknown person obtained the victim's debit card information and made purchases without her knowledge or permission. The incident remains under investigation and anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact the state police at 570-265-2186.
Low hanging wire causes accident
Pennsylvania State Police responded to a one vehicle crash on Jan. 2, on North Rome Road in Litchfield Township. The crash occurred as the vehicle was traveling south west on North Rome Road and struck a low hanging wire which was hanging across the roadway. The vehicle came to final rest facing southwest in its lane of travel with no reported damage and no injuries.
Vehicle strikes tree
On Dec. 30, Carol A. Plate, 69, of Sayre, was driving south on South Gate Road when she lost control of her vehicle and struck a tree. Plate was ticketed for driving at safe speeds.
Driver loses control of vehicle
Pennsylvania State Police reported a one vehicle crash on Jan. 2 on Shaffers Notch Road in Terry Township. A vehicle, driven by Robert L. Yates, 20, of Wyalusing, was traveling on a dry road when the driver lost control, causing the vehicle to travel into the oncoming lane, back into the proper lane of travel, then off the shoulder of the roadway, striking a ditch and utility pole.
Yates reported wearing his seatbelt at the time of the crash and was not injured. The vehicle was towed from the scene by Benjamin's Towing and Yates was cited for driving on roadways laned for traffic.
DUI charges filed
On Dec. 17, Pennsylvania State Police troopers were dispatched to James Street in Sheshequin Township for the report of a vehicle stuck in the mud in the front yard. Through investigation it was discovered that Anthony P. Pugliese, 49, of Lancaster, drove his vehicle into the front yard from James Street in an attempt to turn around and got his vehicle stuck.
While police spoke with Pugliese, he displayed signs of impairment and intoxication. He was taken into custody for DUI and was transported to Memorial Hospital in Towanda in order to submit to a legal blood draw. Pugliese was subsequently charged with DUI.
Yard damaged
On Dec. 15, Pennsylvania State Police took a report of damage done to a residential yard on Pottersville Road in Orwell Township.
Driver falls asleep at wheel
Pennsylvania State Police responding to a one vehicle accident on State Route 706 in Wyalusing Township discovered Benjamin L. Jackson, 20, of Morris, had fallen asleep at the wheel and crashed his vehicle. The vehicle left the roadway striking approximately three trees with the front area and driver's side of the car causing property damage. The vehicle came to final rest facing west in the eastbound shoulder of State Route 706. Jackson was cited for careless driving.
Public drunkenness charge filed
On Dec. 28, Pennsylvania State Police observed Justin P. Arnold, 34, of Wyalusing, walking along the southbound shoulder of Route 220 near the intersection with Covered Bridge Road in Ulster Township while under the influence of alcohol. He was determined to be a danger to himself or others. Arnold was taken into custody and charged with public drunkenness.