Orwigsburg police probe
local 'grandparent scam'
ORWIGSBURG - Orwigsburg police are investigating a scam that was reported to their department on Wednesday.
Police said they received a report that an elderly borough resident was scammed out of $13,000 by someone targeting the elderly in what is commonly known as a "grandparent scam."
The victim in this case, police said, was told by a person presenting himself as the woman's grandson saying that he was outside of the country and involved in a crash that the other person was killed and that he needed money to help with legal fees.
Police said that, in most cases involving these "grandparent scams," the person calls a grandparent pretending to be his or her grandson, granddaughter or nephew, sounding upset and saying they only have a few minutes to talk.
The callers also say they have a cold if the relatives say they do not recognize their voice, and the scammers often say they are traveling in another county with a friend and were involved in an accident or other legal issue and need money to be wired money immediately by Western Union.
Police said sums can range from several hundred to several thousand dollars, sometimes over the course of several telephone calls, and on occasion, a second call will be received from a person saying to be a law enforcement official or attorney asking for additional money.
Anyone who may be a victim of such scams is told there are ways they can take to protect themselves.
Although the supposed grandchild may plead with the person not to tell his or her family, the victim should immediately reach out to parents or other relatives to verify the information.
Another way to determine if the information is true is to look at the country or area code of the caller and a quick check online can confirm that the country or area code is consistent with the information provided.
When in doubt, and before sending any money, contact the state department's Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747. This department will help verify if the situation is legitimate or a scam, police said.
Pottsville man charged
for pointing pistol at cousin
Pottsville police Wednesday charged a city man with pointing a pistol at his cousin and threatening to shoot, police said Friday.
Police charged Kevin Harris, 29, with aggravated assault, simple assault, persons not to possess a firearm, recklessly endangering another person and making terroristic threats, city police said in a news release Friday.
On Wednesday, Harris was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and placed in county prison in lieu of $50,000 cash bail, police said.
Harris was still incarcerated Friday, according to a prison spokesman.
At 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, police were dispatched to 810 West Race St. for a report of a domestic disturbance involving a gun. Police learned Harris had been involved in an argument with his 50-year-old female cousin when he became enraged and threatened to shoot her in the face with a silver Ruger Security Six 0.357-caliber handgun, police said.
Police charge city man
in domestic violence act
Pottsville police Wednesday charged a city man with punching his live-in girlfriend and causing her to suffer "substantial pain and bruising," police said in news release Friday.
Randy Daily, 42, and his 40-year-old girlfriend had been drinking alcohol when they got into a verbal argument which escalated just before 11 a.m. Wednesday at 530 E. Market St., police said.
Daily hit the woman, bruising her right eye and ear and ribs, police said.
Police charged Daily with misdemeanor simple assault under the Domestic Violence Act.
Daily was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and placed in county prison in lieu of $10,000 percentage bail, police said.
Daily was still in county prison Friday, according to a prison spokesman.
2-vehicle Pottsville crash
leaves 3 hurt, 1 charged
Three people suffered injuries in a two-vehicle crash in Pottsville on Tuesday night, city police said Friday.
At 6:56 p.m. Tuesday, Mark Whipple, 43, of Pottsville, was driving a blue 1996 Cadillac Deville owned by Debra Gilbert, Illinois, headed south on Route 61 in the right lane, police said.
Whipple hit the back of a 2013 Honda CRV driven by Glen Luckenbill, 65, of Pottsville, police said.
Whipple's passenger, Jeanene Miller-Barry, 38, of Girardville, suffered injuries and was transported by ambulance to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street, police said.
Luckenbill and his wife, Leslee Luckenbill, 62, passenger, later sought treatment at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street, Pottsville, for injuries they suffered in the accident, police said.
Both vehicles sustained disabling damage and had to be towed, police said.
Police cited Whipple for following too closely in traffic.
Saint Clair man suffers
minor injury in crash, cited
A Saint Clair man suffered a minor injury Thursday afternoon after he drove off Mill Creek Avenue in Norwegian Township and struck a utility pole, a mail box, shrubbery, a chain link fence and vinyl railing before coming to rest against a residence, state police at Schuylkill Haven said Friday.
Police suspected Edward C. Snukis, 25, was under the influence of alcohol and controlled substances. Snukis refused to submit to a standardized field sobriety test and was arrested and taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, where a blood test was requested, police said.
Charges will be filed against Snukis, police said.
The incident occurred at 3:20 p.m. Thursday when Snukis was driving a 2003 Subaru Forester west on Mill Creek Avenue. He was speeding when he lost control and traveled onto the north berm. After the collision, Snukis fled the scene, running east on Mill Creek Avenue. Police caught him and transported him back to the scene, police said.
The vehicle was towed from the scene, police said.
Police from Pottsville and Port Carbon, local firefighters and fire police and PPL assisted on scene, police said.
Cumbola man injured
after car hit ice. crashed
A Cumbola man suffered minor injuries from a one-vehicle crash at 7:04 p.m. Tuesday on Glenworth Road near Red Horse Road in North Manheim Township.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said the crash occurred as Thomas J. Cromyak, 44, of Cumbola, driving a 2007 Chevrolet Impala, was traveling south on Glenworth Road, about a mile north of Red Horse Road.
Cromyak hit a patch of ice on the roadway, which made the vehicle slide off the southbound lane and into a utility pole.
The vehicle was towed from the scene and Cromyak was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, Pottsville, for treatment of minor injuries.
He faces charges for failing to drive in the lane.