Tharptown disturbance
THARPTOWN - An April 18 disturbance involving a gun and parking complaint in the 600 block of Center Street near the Tharptown playground remains under investigation.
Approximately a dozen children and adults were at the playground at the time of the incident.
Coal Township Police Chief William Carpenter reported charges are pending against two individuals relating to the 4:10 p.m. dispute.
He said police have received conflicting statements regarding exactly what happened during the incident that resulted in no injuries.
"We are taking this incident seriously and charges are pending," he said. The chief said he couldn't release any other details of the case until charges are filed, which he expects to happen Monday.
Patrolman Joshua Wynn and Detective Jeff Brennan are the investigating officers.
Stolen pills
KULPMONT - Edward Dennis Paul, 48, of 916 Scott St., Apt. B, Kulpmont, is accused of stealing prescription medication. He allegedly stole pain pills from a woman, same address, who was hospitalized between March 31 and April 8. The woman called police after Paul allegedly confessed. Additional medication was also stolen, police said, but could not be accurately identified.
Paul is charged by Kulpmont Police Chief Michael Pitcavage with theft, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Spice charges
MOUNT CARMEL - Alex Matthew Schlief, 18, of 4540 State Route 61, Paxinos, is charged by Lt. Christopher Buhay with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Police said Schlief possessed synthetic marijuana or "spice," Sept. 27 near Seventh and Poplar streets. He was arraigned Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.
Pot, booze
KULPMONT - Dianna Higginbotham, 47, of 637 Pine St., Kulpmont, is charged by Patrolman David Tomtishen with three counts of driving under the influence and a traffic signal violation. Police said she made an illegal right turn onto Chestnut Street (Route 61) at the traffic signal Feb. 24. Police said she failed field sobriety testing, and that her blood alcohol content was 0.122 percent, exceeding the legal limit of 0.08 percent. She also tested positive for marijuana, police said.
Driving high
RIVERSIDE - Cody J. Rainier, 23, of 845 Bottom Road, Millville, is accused of driving while impaired on marijuana related to a traffic stop April 10 at Sunbury Road and Oak Street.
Riverside Patrolman Timothy Kiefaber charged Rainier with two counts of driving under the influence of marijuana and one count each of possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding.
Police said Rainier confessed to possessing marijuana after his vehicle was stopped about 5:30 p.m. for traveling 51 mph in a 35-mph zone, and also confessed to smoking the drug earlier that afternoon. Passengers in his vehicle included a 9-year-old child. Blood testing confirmed the presence of marijuana in his system, according to a criminal complaint.
Guilty plea
RIVERSIDE - Wallace Ellis Seltzer Jr., 30, of 106 Eyer Road, Danville, pleaded guilty Wednesday to possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced by Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones to one year probation and a $500 fine plus costs. One count of possession of a controlled substance was withdrawn.
Trooper Dan Wilk of state police at Stonington responded to 33 Hummer Road in Rush Township, near Riverside, about 11 a.m. March 31 following a 911 hang-up call. Seltzer was taken into custody at the home for violating a protection from abuse order, and was found in possession of a small amount of synthetic marijuana or "spice."