Several Lebanon County police departments
As temperatures feel frigid, it’s so tempting to let the car warm up without you. But beware of thieves who will easily take advantage of a puffer! A puffer is a car that’s left running, unlocked, and unattended. Puff, puff of the exhaust pipe is a smoke signal to a thief!
✅ Start your car with a remote starter that requires the car to be locked.
✅ Approach your car with caution, scanning the area and walking quickly, in case someone is eyeing your return.
❌ Do not sit and text in your vehicle. Get moving.
❌ Do not leave your vehicle puffing at a mini-mart or convenience store. It’s a quick and easy target!
Why your car? Newer models are desirable for joy rides or for organized theft rings and transport to other areas or overseas. Older models are very valuable for the parts. Your car is probably worth more chopped to pieces than intact. Freeze out the thieves! Stay safe and protect your ride.
Watch the surveillance video of thieves in Allentown stealing a minivan left puffing.
Bethel Township
Vehicle accident – At 6:45 a.m. Nov. 24, a 2020 Infiniti QX50 was traveling north on Mount Zion Road. The driver was attempting to negotiate a left turn, lost control, exited the road, struck a utility pole on the right side of the road, and traveled through the yard of a property on the 1400 block of Mount Zion Road. The driver was not on scene when police arrived. The seatbelt was still latched, and the airbags were deployed. It is unknown if the driver sustained injuries.
DUI – At 7:56 a.m. Dec. 22, police responded to Freeport and Union roads for a report of a man passed out behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. When police arrived, they observed the 30-year-old Mount Joy male driver of a 2017 Subaru Forester displaying several signs of impairment. Police took the man into custody for DUI-alcohol and/or a controlled substance.
City of Lebanon
DUI – On Jan. 4, police charged Alberto Gonzalez, 61, with DUI-alcohol after a traffic stop in the area of North 9th and Willow streets.
DUI – On Jan. 4, police charged Rafelin Sosa Lopez, 38, with DUI-alcohol and drivers required to be licensed after a traffic stop in the area of South 9th and Cumberland streets.
Drug possession – On Jan. 3, police charged Wilton Pagan-Vazquez, 42, with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on the 800 block of Church Street.
Terroristic threats, resisting arrest, drug possession – On Dec. 31, police charged Julia Boyer, 26, with terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest, escape, and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on the 500 block of East Cumberland Street.
Drug possession – On Jan. 4, police charged Richard Hoofnagle, 49, with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on the 100 block of South 8th Street.
Burglary – On Jan. 5, police charged Amber Snyder, 34, after an incident on the 100 block of Mifflin Street.
National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day – Jan. 9 was National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, recognizing the tireless efforts and sacrifices made by law enforcement officers across the country. The Lebanon City Police Department would like to take a moment to acknowledge and express its gratitude to the dedicated men and women who serve the community! Whether it’s a kind word, a gesture of gratitude, or a simple “thank you,” let’s show our appreciation for those who serve and protect us. The Lebanon City Police Department appreciates the kindness of Cleona Coffee Roasters, 700 W. Main St., Annville, for thinking of the police department!
Jackson Township
Harassment – At 11:05 a.m. Nov. 26, police were informed via ChildLine of a school teacher allegedly having grabbed the arms of a student. Police are investigating.
Myerstown Borough
Theft – At 12:48 p.m. Nov. 25, police responded to West Main Avenue for a report of a theft from a 70-year-old Robesonia man. Police are investigating.
North Londonderry Township
Vehicle accident – Police charged a 19-year-old Harrisburg man with driving too fast for conditions after the vehicle he was driving slid off the road and struck a cluster of mailboxes. This crash occurred at 8:20 p.m. Jan. 6 on the 800 block of North Forge Road.
Vehicle accident – At 6:31 a.m. Jan. 6, police responded to the 1100 block of Hoffer Road for a single-vehicle crash. A 48-year-old Pottsville woman reported losing control of her 2017 Toyota Sienna, sliding off the road, and striking a utility pole and a fence. No injuries were reported. The Toyota was driven from the scene. A citation for driving at safe speeds was filed through MDJ Warner’s office.
Identity theft, financial exploitation of an older person – On Jan. 8, police charged Cortney Keefer, 42, of Palmyra, with felony forgery and four counts each of felony identity theft, felony access device fraud, and felony financial exploitation of an older person or care-dependent person. Keefer opened multiple credit card accounts using another person’s identifying information and then used them to make purchases and cash advances exceeding $6,000.
South Lebanon Township
Drug possession – On Nov. 9, police pulled over a vehicle on Prescott Road and discovered the driver of the vehicle, Chase Albright, 36, was in possession of drug paraphernalia. Police also learned his driver’s license was suspended. Police charged Albright with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor driving while suspended (DUI-related, third or subsequent offense).
Drug possession, careless driving – On Oct. 17, police responded to a crash on East Walnut Street and learned that the driver of the vehicle, Dustin Longenecker, 38, was in possession of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Police charged Longenecker with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance (cocaine), misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, summary driving while suspended, and summary careless driving.
Drug possession – On Dec. 31, police pulled over a vehicle on the 1900 block of East Cumberland Street and learned that the driver of the vehicle, Kelly Ambush, 62, was in possession of illegal narcotics. Police charged Ambush with misdemeanor possession of a small amount of marijuana.
DUI – On Nov. 18, police responded to a crash on Mine Road and learned that the driver of the vehicle, Gregory Derr, 59, was under the influence of a controlled substance. Upon receipt of Derr’s blood test results, police charged Derr with misdemeanor DUI-controlled substance.
Access device fraud – On Oct. 7, police received a complaint regarding fraud and learned that Madison Yoder, 22, had used another person’s credit card to purchase $539.11 worth of DoorDash orders. Police charged Yoder with felony access device fraud and misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking.
Disorderly conduct – Police are investigating an incident involving an inmate from LCCF becoming disruptive while in attendance for a PFA court hearing at 8 a.m. Oct. 25 at the Lebanon County Courthouse.
Welcome Officer Logan Firestine – The South Lebanon Township Police Department is proud to announce the swearing-in of Officer Logan Firestine. A Lebanon County native, Officer Firestine has deep roots in the community as a Lebanon County resident and graduate of ELCO High School. He went on to further his education at the Pennsylvania College of Technology and the Harrisburg Area Community College Police Academy. Officer Firestine is a dedicated law enforcement professional who has valuable experience in police work, having served in law enforcement before joining the department, and has a strong commitment to serving the people of South Lebanon Township. The police department is excited to welcome him aboard and looks forward to the positive impact he will make in South Lebanon Township. Please join in congratulating Officer Firestine as he begins his career with the South Lebanon Township Police Department.
South Londonderry Township
Found property – At 2 p.m. Dec. 26, a Motorola phone was found on Palmyra Road near Northside Drive. The owner should contact South Londonderry Township police at 717-838-1376.
Vehicle accident – At 4:17 p.m. Jan. 2, a 2024 Tesla Model Y driven by a 16-year-old male struck an embankment and went airborne before coming to rest in a farmer’s field at the intersection of Kreider and Chestnut Hill roads. Before the crash, the Tesla was traveling south on Chestnut Hill Road and failed to stop at the stop sign on Kreider Road, driving through the T-intersection before striking the embankment. The Tesla was towed from the scene. There was another male juvenile in the vehicle at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported. Police charged the driver with duties at stop signs.
Vehicle accident – At 1:44 p.m. Dec. 18, a Ford SUV driven by a 58-year-old Palmyra woman collided with a Toyota Corolla driven by a 61-year-old Annville resident while the Ford was backing out of a parking space on the 100 block of Northside Commons. Both vehicles were driven from the scene. No injuries were reported.
Vehicle accident – At 2:20 p.m. Dec. 10, a vehicle driven by a 53-year-old Elizabethtown woman failed to stop at a stop sign on Bachmanville Road while traveling south and collided with a vehicle driven by a 19-year-old Palmyra woman traveling east on Colebrook Road. The striking vehicle rolled, trapping its driver. The Lawn Fire Department extricated the driver, and both drivers were transported to Hershey Medical Center for injuries sustained in the crash. Police charged the driver of the striking vehicle with a stop sign violation.
Operation Fill-a-Cruiser 2024 – South Londonderry Township police are pleased to report that the 11th year of Operation Fill-a-Cruiser initiative was a success and more than 140 children in the Lebanon County area were assisted.
Each year, off-duty South Londonderry Township officers are stationed at various locations to collect new toys, non-perishable food, and hygiene products. Through the generous donations, the officers were able to get these items where they needed to go, helping children and families at Christmas. Excess items are held in storage and will be used throughout the year to help in times of tragedy.
This year, police were assisted and supported by the Lebanon Lodge No. 42, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Auxiliary, along with the Cornwall Borough and South Lebanon Township police departments.
This program is a large undertaking each year, with more than 180 hours invested between officers and volunteers. The South Londonderry Township Police Department extends its thanks to the many contributors, supporters, and volunteers that made this program possible, including the Lebanon Lodge No. 42, the Fraternal Order of Police, and the Auxiliary, Redner’s Markets, the Zellers family in memory of Luke Zellers, Blanca Siegel and family, the James Biever Police-Community Alliance, the Lowe’s in Palmyra, the Grocery Outlet in Palmyra, the APR Supply in Lebanon, Drayer Physical Therapy, the Northern Lebanon Elementary School, Palmyra Grace Church, DAS Distributors, Blue Knights Chapter V, New Story Schools, several private donors, and volunteers who worked behind-the-scenes to sort, wrap, and package items.
Western Lebanon County Regional Police
DUI – Around 4:05 p.m. Aug. 1, police responded to an accident involving multiple parked cars and injuries on the 600 block of Spruce Street in Palmyra. Police found the driver, Tina Taylor, 53, to be driving under the influence of a controlled substance. Lab results later confirmed that Taylor was under the influence of marijuana. On Dec. 17, charges were filed against Taylor for misdemeanor DUI-drugs or combination of drugs and misdemeanor DUI-controlled substance.
Bench warrant served – At 5:43 p.m. Jan. 2, police pulled over a vehicle on the 900 block of East Main Street in Palmyra for traffic violations and identified the occupant of the vehicle as Sky Wagner, 28, who had a bench warrant out of Lebanon County for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance. Police placed Wagner under arrest and took her to LCCB.
Fugitive warrant – On Dec. 31, police arrested Lalitha Moses, 51, for a failure to appear warrant in Maryland. Police took Moses into custody during the course of an investigation of a suspicious vehicle on the first block of West Pine Street in Palmyra.
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