Pottsville police took five people into custody during an incident that began about 1:20 a.m. Friday inside Sheetz, 900 Gordon Nagle Trail.
Pottsville police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said officers saw Tyler R. McNulty, 23, of Schuylkill Haven, inside the store and were aware of an existing arrest warrant against him by Schuylkill County Adult Probation.
McNulty was taken into custody and a subsequent search determined he was in possession of methamphetamine.
Officers then learned that Kyle F. Lombel, 23, also of Schuylkill Haven, was with McNulty and was hiding in the men’s bathroom inside the business, the chief said. Lombel was also taken into custody on an outstanding arrest warrant and found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.
Wojciechowsky said while officers were locating Lombel, they found Gianfranco Dovidio, 26, of Pottsville, who was wanted on a warrant from the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office.
At the time of his arrest, the chief said, Dovidio was found with a stun gun and drug paraphernalia.
He added that all three were committed to Schuylkill County Prison from the scene on each of their outstanding warrants.
Criminal complaints will be filed with Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, charging McNulty with possession of a controlled substance; Lombel with possession of drug paraphernalia; and Dovidio with possession of prohibited offensive weapons and possession of drug paraphernalia.
While on scene, Wojciechowsky said, officers saw a man and woman trying to hide behind McNulty’s vehicle in the parking lot of the business.
They were identified as Seth Savitsky, 18, of Pottsville, and Brianna Jo Schaeffer, 21, of Cressona, Wojciechowsky said.
He said a subsequent investigation revealed that Savitsky was in possession of a .22-caliber revolver, five boxes of .22-caliber ammunition and a spring loaded knife.
Savitsky was placed under arrest and arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, on charges of felony firearms not to be carried without a license and possession of offensive weapons. He was then committed to prison unable to post 10 percent of $15,000 bail.
Wojciechowsky said Schaeffer was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia and will be charged with possession of drug paraphernalia by summons.