20 Face Charges In Drug Sweep In Tamaqua

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TAMAQUA, PA – Arrest papers and pictures of suspects in hand, officers knocked on doors in the Tamaqua area Monday morning, taking more than a dozen people into custody on drug charges.

At least one defendant was arrested for drug possession, while most of the defendants are accused of actually selling drugs, according to Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman, who along with Tamaqua police Chief Rick Weaver and members of the county drug task force orchestrated the effort.

In total, 17 warrants were served, though 20 are facing charges. The arrests came after months of police investigations involving undercover and controlled drug purchases of narcotics, some of which involved video-recorded purchases for the sale of methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana.

Holman, who sat through all of Monday’s arraignments, personally asked that each person be held on high bail, stating over and over again that her office and law enforcement are taking a tough stance on drugs in the county and considers those dealing to be a danger to the community.

Read more: http://republicanherald.com/news/20-face-charges-in-drug-sweep-in-tamaqua-1.1704236

Canton Man’s Bail At $1.5 Million After Police Chase

Map of Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA with township and municipal bondaries. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TROY, PA – A Canton man was jailed in lieu of $1.5 million bail after he fled from police and crashed his truck Saturday in Canton, according to Magisterial District Judge Jonathan Wilcox of Troy.

Wilcox said John Edward Gundaker, 44, of West Main Street, Canton, had a preliminary arraignment at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, and was unable to post bail. Gundaker faces a preliminary hearing at 1 p.m. May 7 before Wilcox.

According to court papers, Gundaker is charged with fleeing or attempting to elude officer, a felony of the third degree. In addition, he is charged with resisting arrest, a misdemeanor of the second degree; simple assault – attempt, a misdemeanor of the second degree; and two summary counts of reckless driving. In addition, he is charged with a violation of “driving vehicle at safe speed,” a summary offense; and a disorderly conduct offense.

According to an affidavit, Canton police officer Joshua Heckman was contacted by the Bradford County Emergency Operations Center (EOC), and was asked to respond to a domestic disturbance at Gundaker’s apartment. The EOC reported that the incident was called in by a man, who was on the phone at the time with the victim in the incident, Desiree Rios, no age or address given, when she was at Gundaker’s apartment and a fight broke out between Rios and Gundaker.

Read more: http://thedailyreview.com/news/man-s-bail-at-1-5-million-after-police-chase-1.1676619

Arrest In Forty Fort Homicide

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

FORTY FORT, PA — A Plains Township man was arraigned overnight on charges he fatally shot another man Tuesday night.

Brian Leonard Pavia, 39, was charged with criminal homicide in the deadly shooting of John Dulsky outside 1217 Wyoming Ave. just before 7 p.m.

According to police, Officer Brian Casella responded to the address and encountered Pavia standing in front of a Ford pickup truck in a driveway. Pavia pointed to a man lying face down on the ground in snow.

Pavia allegedly told police Dulsky punched him in the face and “could not believe this was all over a snow blower,” police said.

Read more: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news/1064015/Arrest-in-Forty-Fort-homicide

Arrest Made In Sherman Hills Shooting

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WILKES-BARRE, PA — Police early this morning made an arrest in the deadly shooting of a woman at Sherman Hills on Monday and are calling the death a homicide.

Police said Shantique Goodson, of 328 Parkview Circle, Sherman Hills, is the woman who suffered multiple gunshot wounds at the apartment complex at about 4:15 p.m. Monday.

Kenneth Malik Evans III, 21, of 19 S. Empire St., Wilkes-Barre, was taken into custody at approximately 1:30 this morning at police headquarters. He was arraigned by District Judge Ronald Swank in Wright Township on an open count of criminal homicide and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail.

Read more: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news/979548/Arrest-made-in-Sherman-Hills-shooting

Tulpehocken Phys-Ed Teacher Charged With Sexual Assault Of Student

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States Public School Districts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Tulpehocken High School physical education teacher was arrested Wednesday and charged with having a sexual relationship with a 17-year-old male student.

Nicole Kurowski, who was also a cheerleading coach, surrendered to authorities and was arraigned on an institutional sexual assault charge before District Judge Thomas M. Gauby Sr.

She was released on $25,000 bail.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=518371

DA: No Bail For Aiello In Wilkes-Barre Homicide Case

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WILKES-BARRE — The city man accused of shooting his wife to death last week is not eligible for bail, Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie J. Salavantis said this morning.

Vito J. Aiello, 48, who is recovering from what police say is a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the face, was arraigned in his hospital bed Monday afternoon at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in PlainsTownship.  He was arraigned via teleconference on an open count of criminal homicide in the Thursday night slaying of Jane Aiello, 47.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news//874428/DA:-No-bail-for-Aiello-in-homicide-case

Prosecutors Will Charge Wilkes-Barre Man With Homicide

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Prosecutors plan to charge Vito Aiello on Monday afternoon with an open count of criminal homicide in the shooting death of his wife last week.

Aiello, 48, of 389 Andover St., Wilkes-Barre, is accused of fatally shooting his wife, 47-year-old Jane Aiello, before turning the gun on himself late Thursday.

Vito Aiello remains hospitalized at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Plains Township, with gunshot wound to the face. Prosecutors say he is severely injured, but expected to survive.

His arraignment is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the hospital.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/prosecutors-will-charge-wilkes-barre-man-with-homicide-1.1560780

Police Arrest Reading Man Charged With Attempted Homicide

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Reading man charged with attempted homicide in the May shooting of another man has been arrested.

Salvador Rivera, 43, of the 1600 block of Moss Street was committed to Berks County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail after arraignment early Saturday before Senior District Judge Paul J. Hadzick in Reading Central Court.

He also was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment and possessing an instrument of crime.

Reading police obtained a warrant for Rivera on May 28, the day of the shooting, but he remained at large until Friday. Arrest details were unavailable.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=513848

Conrad Weiser Coach Charged In Sex Assault

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States Public School Districts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Conrad Weiser High School athletics coach was charged by state police late Friday night with having sex with a 16-year-old girl he coached.

Troopers said they arrested Benjamin J. Stopper at his South Heidelberg Township home at about 9:15 p.m. He was awaiting arraignment in Reading Central Court late Friday night.

Stopper, 31, of the 200 block of Longview Drive had a three-month-long sexual relationship with the girl, troopers said.  He would meet her at his house and her home, give her rides home from practice and even took her along on a business trip to Philadelphia.

Troopers said they contacted school officials late Friday night to let them know about the charges.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=503002

Marcus Hook Mayor Arraigned On Corruption, Booze, Gun Charges

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Delaware County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Marcus Hook Mayor James D. Schiliro was arraigned Thursday on charges he allegedly had a police officer bring a 20-year-old friend to his home, where he gave the minor alcohol and fired a gun in his house while drunk.

Judge David R. Griffin set bail at $50,000 unsecured for Schiliro, 38, on charges of recklessly endangering another person, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, furnishing alcohol to a minor and official oppression.

“We intend to fight these charges,” said Michael Malloy, Schiliro’s attorney.  Schiliro did not comment.

Schiliro has been asked by the borough council to resign, which he has said he would not do.

Read more:  http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130321_Marcus_Hook_mayor_arraigned_on_corruption__booze__gun_charges.html