Retail theft reported
Athens Township Police reported the arrest of 19-year-old Kevin R. Belcher of Towanda for the offenses of retail theft and receiving stolen property in regard to an incident on Dec. 8 at the Walmart on Elmira Street.
Walmart employees contacted township police after placing two individuals in custody for retail theft. The employees reported to police that a vision center associate witnessed two males exit the store without paying for two televisions. One male, identified as Belcher, then returned to the store with an unknown female and were witnessed selecting several items and placing them in a tote that was already located in the cart they were pushing. The two then walked past all points of payment and exited the store. At this time they were then confronted by Walmart employees. Belcher then admitted to the employees that he had not paid for the televisions earlier and the total value of the items taken during the second trip was $142.12. The value of the two televisions was $478.
Belcher was later found to have a prior conviction for retail theft. Athens Township Police subsequently charged him with misdemeanor retail theft and receiving stolen property. He was pre-arraigned on Jan. 5 by Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw and will return for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 3.
Trespass and retail theft occurs
On Dec. 23, officers with the Athens Township Police Department were called to the Walmart on Elmira Street for reported retail theft. Upon arrival officers spoke to asset protection associates from Walmart who told them Molly Marie Shulas, age 60, from Ulster, had taken over $198 worth of food and paper merchandise and attempted to leave the store without payment. The employee also relayed to officers that Shulas was given a written notice of restriction, barring her from entering the property on July 6, 2012.
Shulas was subsequently charged with retail theft and defiant trespass. She is set to return to answer to these charges on Feb. 3, with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.
Man charged after being found with used needles
Athens Borough Police reported the arrest of 26-year-old, Shane I. "Tony" Furman of Wysox after stopping two individuals on bicycles traveling in the middle of the road on West Pine Street on Jan. 6. During the officer's encounter with the two males, he asked Furman if he had any weapons or needles on him because of previous dealings with the individual. Furman then related to the officer that he had a needle in his pocket. In a subsequent search of Furman, in his backpack showed two used syringes and a spoon containing white powder wrapped in cellophane. Furman is also known to be on supervised bail.
He was subsequently charged with possession of drug paraphernalia. Furman will face the charge at a preliminary hearing on Feb. 3 with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.
DUI arrest made
On Dec. 6, Athens Borough Police reported the arrest of Charles W. Magahan, 47, of Athens, for several offenses related to driving under the influence, after a traffic stop just south of Bridge Street.
Magahan was driving near the intersection of South Elmira and North streets when he slowed down to an inappropriately slow speed until he reached the intersection of Ridge Street. The officer noted that the vehicle failed to dim its high beams as cars approached and passed.
The officer that initiated a traffic stop, upon speaking with Magahan, could detect an odor of alcohol emitting from his person. Magahan admitted to consuming three beverages before leaving Corning, N.Y., and agreed to perform the standard battery of field sobriety tests. He failed to perform any of the tests to a satisfactory manner. He was subsequently charged with DUI: highest rate of alcohol, DUI: general impairment, use of multiple beam road lighting equipment, and driving on the right side of the roadway. He is set to answer to the charges at a preliminary hearing on Jan. 30 with Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw.
Pills stolen
Brianna Lynn Brock, no age given, of Gillett, told state police at Towanda that someone unknown stole pills from her purse sometime between Jan.8-9 on Roaring Run Road in South Creek Township.
DUI arrest made
State police at Towanda said a 29-year-old man was taken into custody for DUI following a one-vehicle crash that occurred sometime between 12:30 a.m. and 1 a.m. recently on Route 14 in Troy Township.
Police did not identify the man or list the date of the incident.
Person threatened
State police at Towanda said Jennifer Kyle, 41, of Warren Center, was threatened by an 8-year-old male from Warren Center sometime between 3:40 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Jan. 8 on Warren Center Road in Warren Township.
Fraud reported
State police at Towanda said someone obtained one of the credit cards of Michele L. Harnish, 45, of Ulster at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 4 on Enterprise Road in Rome Township and applied charges onto it at a Boscov's in Binghamton, N.Y.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact state police at Towanda at (570) 265-2186.
Towanda man faces assault charges
A Towanda man was recently charged with simple assault; terroristic threats; harassment and recklessly endangering another person following an incident that occurred on Jan. 19 in Towanda.
According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark's office, Justin Louis Lavalle, 29, had an argument with his father that turned physical. Lavalle then went to the backyard and fired approximately five rounds of a 12 gauge shotgun into the woods. He then struggled with his father and punched him an unknown number of times. The victim suffered swelling and an abrasion on his forehead, as well as a small cut on his neck. Police say Lavalle also threatened to kill the victim.
Lavalle was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw in lieu of $10,000 bail and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28.
Assault occurs in Towanda
A Towanda man was charged with simple assault and harassment following an incident that occurred on Jan. 23 in Towanda.
According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark's office, the female victim entered the residence and Michael Joseph Davis, 54, immediately began striking her with closed fists before grabbing her by her hair and eventually throwing her against a heating stove. Police observed multiple injuries to her head, face and arms and Bradford County EMS were called to respond to the scene.
Davis was arraigned before District Judge Jonathan Wilcox in lieu of $10,000 bail and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 28.
Man charged after sending harassing letter
A Frackville man has been charged with harassment following a report from an Ulster female victim that he had sent an explicit letter to her on Jan. 6.
According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark's office, Russell Allen Mathews, 23, was being incarcerated at the Mahanoy State Correctional Institution and had sent the letter to the victim asking her to perform sexual acts for him.
Allen has been sent a summons for a preliminary hearing on Feb. 25.
Ulster man faces multiple indecent assault charges
An Ulster man has been charged with corruption of minors and two counts of indecent assault following separate incidents with two separate victims.
According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark's office, sometime in 2013 and in October of 2014, Dylan James Strohl, 19, improperly touched and assaulted the female victim, who was 12 years old at the time. The victim related that Strohl was 18 years old when both incidents happened.
A second victim, now 15 years of age, also related that Strohl assaulted her beginning when she was 12 years old.
Strohl has been sent a summons for a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 11.
Wysox man faces DUI charges
According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Timothy Clark's office, Phillip Foster, 49, has been charged with driving under the influence at a high rate of alcohol; careless driving and criminal mischief after police received a report of a man yelling and changing a tire on Jan. 9 in Wysox.
When police arrived at the scene, police discovered Foster attempting to change a tire and detected a strong odor of alcohol coming from him. After further evaluation, police took Foster into custody and transported him to Memorial Hospital in Towanda, where he refused to sign and submit for blood testing.
Foster has been sent a summons for a preliminary hearing scheduled for Feb. 27.