Electrical malfunction
MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Fire Chief Jim Reed reported Saturday afternoon's fire at 144 N. Walnut St. was caused by an electrical malfunction in the rafters between the second and third floors of the structure.
Reed said total damage including property and contents is $55,000.
Reed said the cause was determined Monday morning during an inspection of the home by state police fire marshal Kirk Renn of Milton, Mount Carmel Second Assistant Fire Chief Jack Williams Jr. and Mount Carmel Township Fire Marshal Brian Hollenbush.
The 3 p.m. fire left Scott Lubinski, 47, his 40-year-old wife, Nicole, and their two children, Olivia, 14, and Lucas, 5, temporarily homeless.
DUI crash
UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP - A Northumberland man will face charges after the investigation into a crash on Route 147 at Shikellamy Avenue in Upper Augusta Township at 12:36 a.m. Sunday.
State police at Stonington report a vehicle driven by Jeremy S. Moyer, of Northumberland, was traveling into Sunbury from Northumberland when he traveled over a concrete island at the intersection of Route 147 and Shikellamy Avenue. Police say he then traveled across two lanes of traffic before striking the sidewalk and traveling into a grassy area before coming to a rest.
Following the crash, Moyer allegedly drove the vehicle away from the scene and parked it at the intersection of Susquehanna and Joseph streets, Sunbury, then fled on foot. Sunbury City Police located him a short time later, and he allegedly admitted he was drinking and driving at the time, police said.
Scattering rubbish
COAL TOWNSHIP - Andrew J. Mensch, 26, of 309 2 1/2 St., Catawissa, will be cited for scattering rubbish following a mid-February incident. Coal Township Police report that Mensch allegedly deposited and then burned some household garbage in an area west of the Third Patch.
DUI
ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP - Walter Hyde, 71, of Shamokin, was charged with driving under the influence by state police at Stonington following a traffic stop on Route 61 near Anthracite Road, Rockefeller Township, at 2:25 a.m. Sunday.
Scam alert
COAL TOWNSHIP - Police are warning the public about a scam involving sweepstakes information.
Information was received from a Coal Township resident who said they received a phone call telling them they won the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes. The resident was directed to go to Walmart and purchase Green Dot money cards. At that point, the resident hung up on the caller.
Coal Township Police believe this is a scam and that citizens should use caution and not provide any personal information over the phone.
Retail theft
MONROE TOWNSHIP - State police at Selinsgrove cited Jennifer Lutz, 33, and Kerry McCormick, 36, both of Sunbury, for retail theft for allegedly stealing merchandise from Walmart on Routes 11-15 at 8 p.m. Saturday.
Theft charges
SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP - Dennis Edward Drass, 48, and Robert Eugene Palmer, 43, both of White Deer, have been charged with criminal attempt to commit theft and criminal conspiracy to commit theft relating to the Nov. 19 theft of a scrap air conditioning unit valued at $150 from LTS Plumbing and Heating Inc., Route 61, Shamokin Township.
The charges were filed by Trooper James McCormick, formerly of the state police barracks at Stonington. McCormick is now assigned to the state police station at King of Prussia.
Four assaulted
MAHONING TOWNSHIP - A Coal Township woman and three other individuals were the victims of an assault Monday morning at the Danville State Hospital, according to state police in Milton.
Trooper Brad Rishel reported that a 21-year-old female allegedly assaulted Karen Picarelli, 47, of Coal Township, Dawn Searfoss, 22, of Catawissa, and Jerommie McMurray, 33, and Lisa Ard, 49, both of Danville, at 8:30 a.m.
The woman blamed for the assault was not named by police in the news release, but an investigation continues.
