Girl reports suspicious man
Pottsville police are investigating an incident that occurred about 7:40 a.m. Thursday.
Police said they received a report from a 13-year-old girl, who said she had been walking toward the D.H.H. Lengle Middle School about 7:40 a.m. in the 1400 block of Laurel Boulevard when a four-door white car slowed down beside her.
A white man in his 40s with short brown hair and a gray shirt asked her through the open window if she wanted a ride to school, police said.
The girl said no and the man drove off traveling west, police said, adding that the man did tell the child he knew her mother, but the girl reported that she did not know him.
“At this time it is a suspicious incident based on the initial report, and we are using due diligence in investigating the matter fully to ensure the absolute safety of our children,” Pottsville police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said.
Anyone with any information on the matter is asked to call the Pottsville Bureau of Police at 570-622-1234, Ext. 331.
9 teens charged for drinking
MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police have filed charges against nine people after officers were called for an underage drinking party at the Mahanoy Area school complex, 1 Golden Bear Drive, about 11 p.m. Aug. 6.
Charged with underage drinking and corruption of minors were Stephen P. Bolusky Jr., 19, of 202 S. Maple St., Mount Carmel; Jacob N. Pester, 19, of 19 W. Main St., Quakake; and, Justin D. Hall, 19, of 169 Hazle St., Delano.
In addition, police said, Jordan Demko, 19, of 141 Hazle St., Delano, and Michael J. Wronski, 18, of 414 Roosevelt Drive, New Boston, were charged with corruption of minors; and Bradley Q. Freil, 19, of 612 E. Centre St., Mahanoy City, was charged with corruption of minors, underage drinking and selling or furnishing alcohol to minors.
As a result of the incident, police said, underage drinking charges were filed against a 15-year-old Mahanoy City boy, a 13-year-old Mahanoy City boy and a 12-year-old Delano boy.
After being notified of the party, police said, officers went to the area and found several people sitting in the back of a pickup truck and one person outside leaning on the vehicle.
It was determined that the group had been consuming alcohol despite the fact that none were of the legal age to do so, police said.
Police charge man for trespassing
MAHANOY CITY — A borough man was jailed after being arrested by Mahanoy City police after an incident occurred about 3 a.m. Wednesday at 310 W. Railroad St.
Police said Jamie Benjamin, 47, of 100 W. Spruce St., was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, on charges of felony burglary and criminal trespass and misdemeanor terroristic threats.
He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $15,000 bail, police said.
Police said officers were called to 310 W. Railroad St., where a woman reported Benjamin was crawling into her window and shouting he was going to kill her.
The woman said she and Benjamin became involved in an argument earlier and that she told him to leave and never return. The man later returned to the house and yelled threatening remarks through a first-floor window, police said.
Police said Benjamin was taken into custody at the scene without incident.
Police charge man with assault
ASHLAND — Ashland police filed charges against a man after an incident occurred about !0:20 a.m. Saturday in the 1100 block of West Centre Street.
Police said Jason Pryce, 30, of 215 Germanville Road, Ashland, was charged with simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.
Pryce was charged with assaulting a man outside of the Mine Shaft Cafe by hitting him in the face several times, causing bleeding and cuts to his face and also neck pain before fleeing on foot, police said.
In a separate incident that occurred about 9:25 p.m. in the area of 11th and West Centre streets, police charged Pryce with theft from a motor vehicle, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
Police said officers were called to the area for a disturbance and found Pryce hiding between two properties in an intoxicated condition.
It was learned that Pryce entered a vehicle illegally and removed the keys out of the ignition along with a backpack, police said, adding that when Pryce was confronted by the owner while walking down the street, he denied having the keys but threw the backpack toward her.
Police conduct sobriety checks
The North Central PA Regional DUI Enforcement Program reported that a Sobriety Checkpoint was conducted Sept. 4 in Frackville with 19 officers from nine departments participating.
Police contacted a total of 1,036 vehicles, detained 81 and tested seven drivers for DUI, resulting in one DUI arrest.
In addition, the officers made 36 traffic arrests and issued 56 warning notices.