Police Briefs, 12/10/09

Candor, N.Y. man charged with possession of marijuana

David Michael Irons, 23, of Candor, N.Y., faces charges of possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, namely marijuana, the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and the criminal use of a communication facility in connection with incidents which occurred on Oct. 26, 2007 and on Jan. 29, 2008 in Athens Township and Sayre Borough, according to documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

According to an affidavit:

Members of the Bradford County Drug Task Force developed information that marijuana could be purchased from a subject known as "Dave," later identified as Irons.

On Oct. 26, 2007, arrangements were made via a confidential informant via telephone to purchase 10 grams of marijuana from a subject known as "Dave." Irons is accused of selling a police agent approximately 10 grams of marijuana in exchange for $128 in recorded U.S. currency. The substance allegedly procured from Irons was analyzed by a state police laboratory and identified as 7.9 grams of marijuana.

On Jan. 29, 2008, arrangements were made for the purchase of a controlled substance via a confidential informant via telephone. Irons allegedly made a direct sale of purported marijuana to a police agent. The substance allegedly procured from Irons was analyzed at a state police laboratory and identified as 12.2 grams of marijuana.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 15 for Irons to answer the charges, and bail was set at $50,000, according to court documents.

Trespass reported

Timothy Kohr, no age given, of Jonestown, Pa., told state police at Laporte that known people trespassed at his cabin at 6:05 p.m. Nov. 28 on Mill Creek Road in Hillsgrove Township.

Trash incident reported

Helen Burk, 86, of Laporte, told state police at Laporte that she found that her old newspapers, burnable trash and old mail had been put in plastic bags and taken to her burn pit sometime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Dec. 1 at Burk's Drive in on Route 220 in Laporte Township, Sullivan County.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at (570) 946-4610.

No one injured

State police at Towanda said William T. Edwards III, 24, of Williamsport, wasn't injured in a one-vehicle accident at 4 p.m. Nov. 1 on Route 14 in Canton Township.

Police said he was driving his Ford Contour south and, for unknown reasons, he left the road while negotiating a curve and struck a utility pole, reentered the highway, and brought the vehicle to a controlled stop off the road about 1,000 feet from where he re-entered the highway.

Police said he was charged.

No injuries reported

State police at Towanda said Marcella M. Yasharian, 60, of Wyalusing, wasn't injured in a one-vehicle accident at 5 p.m. Nov. 17 on Route 706 in Wyalusing Township.

Police said she was traveling west and a deer entered the road from the right side. She was unable to avoid striking the deer, and her Hyundai Tucson came to rest off the right side of the road shortly after hitting it.

Charges to be filed

State police at Towanda said Chad Messersmith, 25, of Tuscarora Township, and George Messersmith, 60, of Tuscarora Township, will be cited for harassment for a reported assault.

Police said they are accused of engaging in physical contact at 12:25 p.m. Nov. 21 on Coburn Hill Road in Tuscarora Township.

Fraud reported

A 73-year-old Tunkhannock woman told state police at Towanda someone fraudulently charged $1,538.38 worth of merchandise to her checking account in the Phoenix, Ariz., area.

Police said the incident occurred sometime between 12:01 a.m. Oct. 7 and midnight Oct. 8. The location of the incident was listed as both state Route 187, Windham Township, and Phoenix, Ariz.

Money taken

State police at Towanda said $20 was taken from a night stand drawer belonging to Joan Arlene Falkler, 73, of West Burlington Township, sometime between 1 p.m. Nov. 4 and 11 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Bradford County Manor in West Burlington Township.

Wallet found

State police at Towanda said someone took money from a 62-year-old Towanda woman's lost wallet, which was later found at the Bradford County Memorial Cemetery.

Police said the actor fled in an unknown direction. Police said the location of the incident was the BiLo grocery store at 595 Elmira St. in Troy Township sometime between 7 p.m. Nov. 16 and 8:45 a.m. Nov. 17.

Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at (570) 265-2186.

DUI reported

State police at Laporte said Brian George McGuire, 35, of Lopez, was found driving under the influence of alcohol during a traffic stop at 1:30 a.m. Nov. 26 on Route 487 in Lopez Township, Sullivan County.

Police said he was taken into custody for suspected DUI, and will be charged with DUI and other related charges after the investigation is done.

Burglary attempted

State police at Laporte said someone tried to gain access through a side window at 677 Grandview Drive sometime between 11 a.m. Nov. 16 and noon Nov. 17 in Laporte, Sullivan County.

The window was broken, but no one gained access to the residence, said police. Police said the victim was Marie Manzelli, 82, of West Chester.

DUI arrest

State police at Towanda said Lacey Kitchen, 21, of Milan, was arrested for DUI following a traffic stop for another violation at 2:08 a.m. Nov. 28 on state Route 4014 in Smithfield Township.

Burglary reported

State police at Towanda said someone entered the residence of a 49-year-old Collegeville, Pa., man sometime between June 1 and Nov. 14 on state Route 4009 in Smithfield Township and took a toolbox with snap-on tools, bed sheets, and 5-gallon containers of white paint.

Packages taken

State police at Towanda said someone took three packages containing baby clothes from the mailbox of a 41-year-old Columbia Crossroads woman sometime between approximately Nov. 9 and Nov. 12 on Laurel Lake Road in Springfield Township.

Sayre man charged with DUI

Scott F. Swackhammer, 42, of Sayre, faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked and traffic violations in connection with an incident that occurred at around 5:07 p.m. on Oct. 24 in Sayre Borough, according to documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

According to an affidavit:

At the above date and time police observed Swackhammer operating a 1990 Ford Truck with an expired inspection sticker and a smashed windshield on Tioga Street in Sayre Borough. A traffic stop was completed and police observed that Swackhammer's eyes were bloodshot and also observed an odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath and person. Police determined that Swackhammer's driver's license was suspended related to DUI.

Swackhammer allegedly failed a battery of field sobriety tests and was placed under arrest for DUI. A chemical test of blood later showed Swackhammer's BAC to be .24 percent.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 5, 2010, for Swackhammer to answer the charges.

Barton, N.Y. man charged with access device fraud

Michael D. Hendrickson, 24, of Barton, N.Y., faces charges of access device fraud and receiving stolen property in connection with incidents that occurred on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

Hendrickson is accused of taking an ATM card without the owner's knowledge or permission and using it on two occasions, on Oct. 6 and Oct. 7, at an ATM on Spring Street in Sayre and he allegedly received around $200 on each occasion, the documents stated.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 5, 2010, for Hendrickson to answer the charges.

Elmira man charged with possession of cocaine

James H. Mosher, 40, of Elmira, N.Y., faces charges of possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance, the manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and illegal use of a communication facility in connection with an incident that occurred at around 1:11 p.m. on Aug. 11 in Athens Township, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

Mosher is accused of selling 2.2 grams of crack cocaine to a law enforcement officer in exchange for $120 in recorded U.S. currency, the documents stated.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 15 for Mosher to answer the charges and bail was set at $20,000.

Towanda man accused of rape

A Towanda man has been sent a summons to appear before District Justice Tim Clark to answer a charge of rape.

According to information filed at Clark's office, Toris Sylvester Garner, 33, of 21 State St., Apt. 2, has also been charged by Towanda police with sexual assault indecent assault, and false imprisonment.

Police reported being contacted by a county dispatch on Oct. 20, who informed them a woman had called and stated she had been raped. Police said they called the number provided by county dispatch and spoke to the woman, who provided some details of the incident. Police advised the woman to go the Robert Packer Hospital emergency room for a rape exam, and to preserve any clothing she had been wearing from the incident.

The next day, police continued, the woman arrived at the Towanda station and accused Garner of raping her on Oct. 20 at the apartment of another person. The woman said she met Garner, whom she knew, just outside the Knights Out bar in Towanda around 7:45 p.m. Police said the woman explained they eventually ended up at the apartment, where she and Garner talked for a while.

Eventually, the woman continued, Garner grabbed her and had sexual contact with her, even though she told him to stop several times during the incident, police reported. After the incident, the woman said, she dressed, left the apartment, and contacted the authorities.

Later that day, police said, Garner arrived at the Towanda station and asked to speak to them. Police said they agreed, and advised Garner that he was not under arrest, and he could leave at any time, if he wished. Police said they also told Garner of what had been reported to them about the incident, and they wanted to hear his side of the story. Police said Garner confirmed that he had been at the apartment in question on Oct. 20, and he sometimes stays there occasionally. When asked if he knew the woman named - which in the report was the name of the woman who accused Garner of raping her - Garner replied that he did not. Police said they again asked Garner if he knew the woman. This time, Garner said he went for a walk from the apartment around 8 p.m. to Bridge Street, and spoke to a woman known to him by the name of the woman who had made the accusation. Police said Garner spoke to the woman for several minutes, then left and went to the Dandy on Main Street in Towanda. Garner provided them with a voluntary written statement on the matter, police said.

Garner is scheduled to appear before Judge Clark on Jan. 6.

Man charged with DUI

A Towanda man was charged by borough police recently with driving while under the influence.

According to information filed with Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark, Scott James Saxon, 22, has also been charged with reckless driving, and operating a vehicle with a burned out registration light.

Police reported being contacted on Nov. 21 to be on the lookout for a Saturn Ion that was possibly being operated by an intoxicated driver. After patrolling for a while, police continued, they spotted a Saturn traveling across Memorial Bridge in an erratic manner.

Eventually, police continued, they stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Pine and Fourth streets. While speaking to the driver, identified as Saxon, police noted that his eyes were bloodshot and watery, and that his speech was slurred.

Saxon was asked to perform a number of field sobriety tests, all of which he failed, police said. Saxon was placed under arrest for DUI and transported to Memorial Hospital in Towanda, where he agreed to submit to a blood test. The test eventually revealed that Saxon's blood alcohol content was .183 percent on the day of his arrest.

Saxon is scheduled to appear for his preliminary hearing before Judge Clark on Jan. 6.

Woman charged with identity theft

A Towanda woman accused of identity theft has been sent a summons to appear before Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark.

According to information filed in Clark's office, April Lynn Duva, 26, has been accused of placing an order for multiple food items totaling $71.95 and having it billed to Misty Coolbaugh of Towanda.

Duva's preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Jan. 13.

Man charged with leaving accident scene

A Wysox man was recently ordered incarcerated at the Bradford County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail after being charged with leaving the scene of a vehicle accident without it reporting it to the authorities.

According to papers filed with Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark, Joseph Thomas Brown, 51, has also been charged by Towanda police with general impairment, resisting arrest, careless driving, and operating a vehicle on the sidewalk.

Towanda police reported being contacted around 7:35 p.m. on Dec. 5 by an off-duty state police corporal, who reported observing a Jeep station wagon wreck and leave the scene at the intersection of Barclay Street and South Main Street. Police said the corporal provided them with a license plate number, which identified it as a vehicle owned by Brown.

At the accident site, police continued, they observed paint had been left on the Barclay Street road sign, a stop sign, and a painted wall mural. In addition, police said, they also noted where tire tracks in the fresh snow, indicated that a vehicle had traveled onto the sidewalk, and into a telephone pole.

As they were conducted an investigation, police said, an anonymous citizen came up and informed them Brown was in one of the apartments in the area of 7 Bridge Street. Police said they eventually tracked Brown down, but when they attempted to place him under arrest, he refused to place his hands behind his back, requiring him to be forcibly restrained on the floor.

Brown was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton, who ordered the defendant incarcerated in lieu of $10,000 bail. Brown's preliminary hearing is scheduled today before Judge Clark.

Man accused of theft

A Towanda man is scheduled to appear today before Magisterial District Judge Tim Clark to answer a theft charge.

According to information filed at Clark's office, Thomas Paul Heasley, 20, of 12 York Ave., Apt. 1, has also been charged by Towanda police with receiving stolen property, and making false reports to the authorities.

Police reported being contacted by David Knolles Sr. on Nov. 27, who said he wanted Heasley to return a Playstation 2 owned by his son that Heasley had in his possession. Knolles explained that his son had loaned the game system to Heasley about four months ago.

Police said they had been contacted by Heasley on Nov. 3, who reported that the Playstation had been stolen from his apartment during an apparent burglary. However, further investigation revealed that Heasley had actually sold the unit to another person for $10, police continued.

Heasley was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Fred Wheaton, who ordered the defendant released on $1,000 unsecured bail.

Sayre woman charged with harassment

Tracy Lynn Swackhammer, 36, of Sayre, has been charged with harassment in connection with an incident occurring at around 12:16 p.m. on Dec. 7 in Sayre Borough, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

Swackhammer is accused of threatening her estranged husband, Randy Swackhammer, and using vulgar and offensive language towards him, court documents stated.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Jan. 12 for Swackhammer to answer the charges.

Athens man charged with assault

Roberto D. Bostwick, 26, of Athens, has been charged with simple assault and harassment in connection with an incident that occurred at around 5:02 p.m. on Dec. 8 in Athens Borough, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

Bostwick is accused of grabbing a woman by the throat and beginning to choke her, court documents stated.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 15 for Bostwick to answer the charges.

Sayre man charged with DUI

Darren L. Rudloff, 24, of Sayre, faces charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and traffic violation in connection with an incident that occurred at around 12:53 a.m. on Dec. 4 on South Elmer Avenue in Sayre, according to court documents filed at Magisterial District Judge Michael Shaw's office.

According to an affidavit:

At the above date and time, Sayre Borough Police were on routine patrol in the area of South Elmer Avenue when an officer noticed fresh debris on the roadway and a parked vehicle that appeared to have been struck by an unknown vehicle. A trail of vehicle fluid lead from the parked car to a building on South Elmer Avenue that had been struck, and lead to a red 1997 Dodge Intrepid with heavy front end damage and the radiator leaking onto the roadway. Rudloff was the registered owner of the Intrepid, police said.

Rudloff later allegedly admitted to police that he had driven his vehicle from a bar to where police had found it. Rudloff allegedly stated to police that he did not remember hitting the parked vehicle.

A preliminary hearing has been set for Dec. 15, and bail was set at $10,000.

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