Teen kicks officer
COAL TOWNSHIP - A 15-year-old male student at Shamokin Area Middle/High School has been charged with kicking Coal Township Patrolman Chris Lapotsky during a disturbance at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the school.
Police said the Shamokin teen, who caused a disturbance, was charged with aggravated assault, simple assault and disorderly conduct. He was taken into custody and released to Northumberland County Juvenile Services.
Retail theft
COAL TOWNSHIP - Heather Ann Frank, 28, of 331 N. Vine St., Mount Carmel, was charged by Patrolman Jason Adams with retail theft for allegedly stealing $102.06 worth of merchandise from Wal-Mart Supercenter on Route 61 on Feb. 23.
Couple charged
COAL TOWNSHIP - A Lansford couple have been charged by Patrolman Matthew Hashuga with stealing more than $1,000 worth of merchandise from Wal-Mart Supercenter on Route 61 on Jan. 1.
Joseph M. Gannecilli, 37, and his wife, Kathleen M. Gannecilli, 41, are charged with misdemeanors of retail theft and criminal conspiracy to commit retail theft.
According to a criminal complaint, the Gannecillis removed two shopping carts full of merchandise totaling $1,041.13 between 8:45 and 10:15 p.m. The couple left the store and walked to a van in the parking lot before being stopped by assistant manager Larry Pancher, who retrieved most of ther merchandise before the Gannecillis fled from the area in the van.
Police were able to identify the thieves through surveillance video at the store and vehicle registration obtained by Pancher.