Stabbing charges
SHAMOKIN - A Shamokin man was formally charged on allegations he stabbed a man in the city's Fifth Ward earlier this month.
Angel Mario Melendez, 35, of 212 S. Franklin St., is charged by Patrolman Raymond Siko II with aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault, disorderly conduct and possessing an instrument of crime. Melendez is accused of stabbing Jared Lehman, 21, of Northumberland, in his right arm in the 200 block of South Franklin Street about 9:30 p.m. Aug. 2. Lehman was treated at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Coal Township.
According to a criminal complaint, Lehman said Melendez attacked him over a relationship with a woman. Melendez struck him twice in the face and stabbed his arm, the complaint states. Melendez later turned himself over to police. He had blood on his clothing but stated he didn't know where it came from, and denied stabbing Lehman, police said.
Fire charges
SHAMOKIN - A city tenant who was allegedly high on spice when he set fire to his apartment has been charged with felony risking catastrophe and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and disorderly conduct.
Cpl. Jarrod Scandle filed the charges against Matthew Allen, 36, of 45 S. Shamokin St. According to a criminal complaint, Allen said he was "too whacked out" to remember if he was smoking a cigarette in bed or if a pipe he was using to smoke spice, a synthetic marijuana, caused the fire Aug. 5.
The fire sparked near the headboard on his mattress inside a third floor bedroom. All tenants were evacuated safely. Extensive damage was caused to the building's third floor. Allen suffered burns to his right hand, police said.
Pipe possession
SHAMOKIN - Linda J. Bojanac, 56, of 317 S. Coal St., is charged by Cpl. Jarrod Scandle with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said she was observed sitting in the 300 block of South Seventh Street with a smoking pipe and marijuana about 8:40 p.m. July 23. Bojanac admitted to possessing the pipe and marijuana, according to a criminal complaint.
Disorderly conduct
SHAMOKIN - Charles J. Propst, 57, of 124 E. Chestnut St., is charged by Patrolman Raymond Siko II with disorderly conduct and public drunkenness. Propst is accused of defecating behind the first block of West Independence Street at 8:50 p.m. Aug. 7. His pants were around his ankles and his penis and buttocks were exposed to passing motorists, according to a criminal complaint. Police said he smelled strongly of alcohol and admitted to drinking beer throughout the day.
DUI crash
PAXINOS - Shannon Noel Hommel, 24, of 334 Linden St., Sunbury, is charged by Trooper Jared Mowen, state police at Stonington, with two counts of driving under the influence and one count of drivers required to be license, driving on roadways laned for traffic, driving vehicle at safe speed, careless driving, reckless driving and occupant protection. Police said Hommel tested positive for prescription medication and marijuana following a rollover crash July 27 on Route 61 near Miles Road. The 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee she was driving twice crossed the cement median into the oncoming lane of traffic before rolling onto its roof. She was not wearing a seat belt and did not have a driver's license, police said.
Kitchen fire
SHAMOKIN - Sabrina Rose Hummel, 31, of 6 S. Franklin St., is charged by Patrolman Raymond Siko II with two felony counts of arson, felony risking a catastrophe, and a summary charge of arson-dangerous burning. Police said Hummel set fire to a trash can inside the kitchen of her home about 7:55 p.m. Aug. 1. Police said Hummel admitted to starting the fire. She was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, for a mental health evaluation, according to a criminal complaint.
Drug charges
DIAMONTOWN - Zachary Allen Starr, 29, of 503 E. Fifth St., is charged by Mount Carmel Township Patrolman David Tomtishen with possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and permitting violation of title. Police said a small amount of marijuana and heroin were found inside Starr's vehicle during a traffic stop about 11:30 p.m. July 22 near the viaduct on Route 61.
Starr and Patricia M. Phelan, 29, of 336 S. Locust St., were passenger in the vehicle. Phelan is charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said a small amount of marijuana was found inside her purse.
The vehicle's driver, Kasey Lee Starr, 23, of 501 E. Fifth St., is charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license DUI related, driving while operating privilege is suspended, drivers required to be licensed, required financial responsibility, carrying and exhibiting a registration card, general lighting requirements and restraint systems.
Careless driving
MOUNT CARMEL - Susan Marie Medved, 46, of 335 W. Fifth St., is charged by Patrolman Matthew Dillman with driving under the influence, misbranding a controlled substance and two counts of careless driving. Police said Medved crashed a Ford sedan into a parked Ford Bronco in the 300 block of West Seventh Street about 12:30 a.m. July 20. Multiple prescription medications were discovered inside the vehicle, according to a criminal complaint.
Theft charges
MOUNT CARMEL - Joseph Smallets, 28, of 213 S. Oak St., Apt. B, and Andrew Stewart Colon, 26, of 645 N. Sixth St., Reading, is charged by Lt. Christopher Buhay with criminal conspiracy, theft and public drunkenness. The two are accused by police of rummaging through vehicles, attempting to enter locked vehicles and being highly intoxicated. Charges stem from an incident July 14 in the 300 block of South Poplar Street.
Theft, drug charges
MOUNT CARMEL - Joseph Charles Shoup, 31, of 501 E. Fifth St., is charged by Patrolman William Adamski with possession of drug paraphernalia, delivery of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana. Police said empty heroin packets, a plastic baggie, prescription pill bottle and small amount of marijuana were discovered inside his home about 9:30 p.m. July 26 after police were dispatched to the area to investigate an alleged theft of money from a vehicle.
Shoup is also charged by Adamski with possession of drug paraphernalia, delivery of drug paraphernalia, adulterated or altered controlled substance, retail theft and public drunkenness. Shoup is accused of stealing food, personal hygiene products, electronic accessories and beverages from Turkey Hill about 8:10 p.m. July 25. Total value of the items Shoup allegedly attempted to steal was approximately $143. Police said he also was in possession of prescription pills and a pen allegedly used to snort powder.
Charges dismissed
MOUNT CARMEL - Charges of simple assault and harassment filed by Ralpho Township Patrolman Chris Dailey against Tyrik W. Johnson, 27, of Bloomsburg, were withdrawn Wednesday when the alleged victim, Heather Roeder, of Orangeville, refused to testify at a preliminary hearing.
Johnson was charged with assaulting Roeder at an Elysburg residence Sunday morning.
DUI charges
MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP - Patrolman Kelly Campbell has charged Timothy W. Weaver, 36, of 336 S. Beech St., Mount Carmel, with two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance involving a June 23 traffic stop at the Mount Carmel Car Wash along Locust Gap Highway.
Police said Weaver was under the influence of a painkiller.
Drug offenses
MOUNT CARMEL - Joseph M. Lamas, 33, of 243 Chestnut St., Mount Carmel, was charged by Patrolman Justin Stelma with possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence of a controlled substance and careless driving involving a June 26 incident in the 100 block of North Chestnut Street.
Police reported Lamas was found in possession of heroin, 14 wrappers used for heroin, a syringe, spoon and glass smoking pipe. He also is accused of driving under the influence of morphine.
Cruelty to animals
MOUNT CARMEL - Edward J. Bolam, 46, of 512 W. Saylor St., Atlas, was charged by Lt. Christopher Buhay with cruelty to animals and two counts of disorderly conduct.
According to a criminal complaint filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, Bolam is accused of allowing his dog to continuously bark in a vacant property he owns at 345 S. Locust St. Police said the barking occurred between June 28 and July 17.
Multiple charges
RIVERSIDE - Serena Lee Beck, 31, of 1720 Maple Ave., Coal Township, was charged by Officer Timothy Kiefaber with two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of a misbranded substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, false identification to law enforcement authorities, two counts of driving under suspension and a turn signal violation.
The charges relate to a July 1 traffic stop in the 100 block of Elysburg Road.
Police reported Beck had phentermine, clonazepam, marijuana, oxycodone and oxymorphone in her blood system.
DUI
MOUNT CARMEL - Janelle Kristen Nye, 25, of 915 W. Montgomery St., Coal Township, was charged by Patrolman Jason Drumheller with driving under the influence of alcohol and a stop sign violation relating to a June 27 accident at Market and Second streets.
Police reported Nye refused to submit to a blood test.
Deceptive business
MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP - Charges of theft and deceptive business practices were filed by Chief of Police Brian Hollenbush against Joseph Thomas McGinley, 51, of 250 S. Poplar St., Mount Carmel.
Police said McGinley is accused of receiving $3,520 from Sherry Doyle on Dec. 20, 2011, for repair work at a residence at 201 Wood St., Atlas, that he never completed. Doyle told police she gave McGinley cash for half of the total projected cost for the renovations because he had completed numerous other jobs for her in the past with no issues.