Several Lebanon County police departments
Phil was right. What do we do now? He’s right! The groundhog predicted more winter, and the next couple of weeks look frigid. Use common sense winter-weather driving safety:
- Visibility and danger: Fully clean ice and snow from your vehicle before driving so you can have full visibility as a driver and prevent ice or snow chunks from flying from your vehicle and hitting another. State law states you could be ticketed if that ice or snow causes death or injury.
- Tires: Check your tire treads to make sure your tires are in good condition and your vehicle is safe to handle winter conditions. Also, assess your tire pressure as dramatic temperature changes can affect your tire pressure.
- Fluids: Be sure to check your fluids, especially windshield washer fluid. Swap out your wipers if they leave streaks.
- Fuel up: Always have at least half a tank of gas, so you are able to go the distance if you find yourself in an emergency.
- No puffers: Don’t forget that thieves are watching for a chance to take advantage of a puffer, a vehicle that’s left running, unlocked, and unattended. The only safe way to warm up is with a remote starter device.
Common sense, but not always common practice! Stay safe, Pennsylvania. Lock your car and take your keys, every time. For more tips on winter driving, check out PennDOT’s guide. Watch the video to spot a puffer!
City of Lebanon
Simple assault, disorderly conduct – On Feb. 10, police charged Esmerally Torres-Davila, 26, with simple assault and disorderly conduct after police responded to the 1200 block of Maple Street for a report of a fight.
Drug possession – On Feb. 17, police charged Alberto Ventura, 37, with possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on the 900 block of Willow Street.
Arrest warrant – On Feb. 18, police issued an arrest warrant against Jesse Sales, 33, with the original charges being terroristic threats and harassment by communication.
Criminal trespass, criminal mischief – On Feb. 12, police charged Hernan Campos-Fernandez, 39, with criminal trespass and criminal mischief after police responded to the 500 block of North 10th Street for a report of an intruder.
Disorderly conduct – On Feb. 20, police charged Tyrone Lowe, 51, with disorderly conduct after an incident on the 100 block of North 14th Street.
Arrest warrant – On Feb. 20, police issued an arrest warrant against Josue Lopez-Roldan, 36, with the original charge being possession of a controlled substance.
Arrest warrant – On Feb. 20, police issued an arrest warrant against Erik Pete, 40, with the original charge being false identification to law enforcement.
Theft of sneakers – On Feb. 14, police responded to the 200 block of South 9th Street for the theft of sneakers. Police are requesting assistance in identifying the suspect pictured below. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Ginder at 717-272-6611 or submit a tip through CRIMEWATCH.
East Hanover Township
Vehicle accident – Around 9:35 a.m. Feb. 14, a crash occurred when a 2014 Nissan Versa driven by an 84-year-old Lebanon man accompanied by an 83-year-old Lebanon woman was traveling south on Homestead Road, exited the road to the east, and struck a wooden post, a Verizon communications box, and another wooden post for a wire fence. Both occupants were not wearing seatbelts due to prior medical procedures, sustained suspected minor injuries, and were transported via Life Lion EMS to Hershey Medical Center. Medical personnel suspect the man had a medical-related incident while driving. The Nissan was towed from the scene by Motter’s Towing.
Vehicle accident – Around 4:14 p.m. Feb. 20, a 2016 Subaru WRX/STI driven by a 22-year-old Grantville man accompanied by a 19-year-old Grantville woman was traveling south on Gravel Hill Road and negotiating a left curve. The Subaru exited the road to the right, struck snow and ice on the shoulder, and struck a tree. Both occupants were wearing seatbelts and sustained no injuries. The Subaru was towed from the scene. A citation for driving on roadways laned for traffic was filed.
Jackson Township
Vehicle accident – At 2:19 p.m. Feb. 15, a 2021 Honda Accord driven by a 19-year-old Myerstown man was traveling south on Kutztown Road, started to slide, exited the road to the right, and struck a utility pole. The man was wearing a seatbelt and sustained no injuries. The Honda sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene. A citation for driving vehicle at safe speed was filed.
Vehicle accident – At 2:58 p.m. Feb. 15, a 2019 Ford Fusion driven by a 27-year-old Lebanon woman was traveling north on Hilltop Road when the Ford started to slide and struck a utility pole. The Ford sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene by CJ’s Towing. The woman was not wearing a seatbelt and sustained a suspected minor injury but refused medical care. A citation for driving vehicle at safe speed was filed.
North Londonderry Township
Aggravated assault on a police officer – At 2:57 a.m. Feb. 9, police responded to the area of South Lingle Avenue and Pajabon Drive for suspicious activity after receiving multiple calls about a female screaming in the area. North Londonderry Township police requested assistance from South Londonderry Township police. Officers determined that a physical domestic occurred between a 17-year-old Palmyra girl and her father on the 800 block of Pajabon Drive, after which the girl fled the scene. South Londonderry police located the girl walking south on South Lingle Avenue, but when police attempted to detain her, she fought with officers. A South Londonderry Township police officer was injured. Police arrested the girl and charged her with aggravated assault on a police officer, purchase, consumption, possession, or transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages, and use of or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
Criminal trespass, loitering and prowling at night – At 12:17 a.m. Feb. 16, police responded to the 700 block of Cambridge Court for a report of an intruder/home invasion. Police found a man inside the home and identified him as Wesley Carbaugh, 20, of Waynesboro. Carbaugh was not supposed to be inside the residence and did not have permission to enter. Based on footprints in the snow, Carbaugh also walked around the area of the 700 block of Cambridge Cout and walked up to numerous other residences before entering the previously mentioned residence. Police charged Carbaugh with felony criminal trespass and misdemeanor loitering and prowling at night.
South Lebanon Township
Drug possession – On Oct. 5, 2024, police pulled over a vehicle on South Lincoln Avenue and found that the passenger, Alicia Hedges, 39, was in possession of a controlled substance (fentanyl). Police charged Hedges with misdemeanor possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance.
Drug possession – On Oct. 5, 2024, police pulled over a vehicle on South Lincoln Avenue and found that the driver, Cory Fake, 53, was in possession of drug paraphernalia. Police charged Fake with misdemeanor possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
Vehicle entries – Around 20 residents of South Lebanon Township fell victim to a series of vehicle entries that occurred overnight on Feb. 17. Thieves made off with personal belongings including wallets, cash, and credit cards from multiple vehicles that were left unlocked. In one instance, a vehicle was stolen and later recovered in the Reading area.
Police would like to remind everyone to ensure their vehicles are locked and to refrain from leaving keys, valuables, or other tempting items inside. All the targeted vehicles were unlocked at the time of the incidents. Anyone with information or home security videos that could assist police shoud call 717-272-2054.
South Londonderry Township
Vehicle accident – At 6:03 p.m. Feb. 10, police responded to the intersection of South Forge and Airport roads for a crash. Police found two vehicles that sustained minor damage but neither driver – a 17-year-old Annville boy and a 65-year-old Palmyra man — was injured.
Vehicle accidents – During the snowstorm between 12:30 and 1:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, South Londonderry Township police responded to six accidents, including a two-vehicle accident on Horseshoe Pike and Palmyra Road, a two-vehicle accident on Bachmanville and West Patrick roads, a single-vehicle accident at the roundabout on South Forge Road, a single-vehicle accident on South Forge and Carriage roads, a single-vehicle accident on the 2000 block of South Forge Road, and a single-vehicle accident on the 9000 block of Colebrook Road.
Vehicle accident – At 3:20 p.m. Feb. 13, police responded to the 700 block of Mount Gretna Road for a report of a single-vehicle roll-over accident. A 32-year-old Elizabethtown woman failed to negotiate a left curve, causing her vehicle to exit the road to the left and strike an embankment before coming to rest on the driver’s side. The woman sustained a minor injury. Lawn Volunteer Fire Company and Fire Police and First Aid and Safety Patrol of Lebanon assisted on the scene.
Vehicle accident – Around 2:45 p.m. Feb. 20, police responded to the 2300 block of South Forge Road for a single-vehicle accident. A vehicle driven by a 53-year-old Mount Gretna man slid on an ice patch, spun, and struck a utility police. The man sustained no injuries. The vehicle sustained moderate damage.
Swatara Township
Vehicle accident – At 4:02 p.m. Feb. 15, a 2006 Ford Freestar driven by a 44-year-old Jonestown woman accompanied by a 24-year-old Jonestown man and a 14-year-old girl was traveling west on SR 22. In the area of North Lancaster Street, the woman lost control of the vehicle on the slush- and ice-covered road and exited the road to the right, striking an embankment and a road sign before the Ford overturned onto its left side. All occupants were wearing seatbelts and sustained no injuries. The Ford sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene by WM Carroll Towing. A citation for driving vehicle at safe speed was filed.
Union Township
Hit-and-run – Around 2:27 p.m. Feb. 1, police responded to a hit-and-run crash at the intersection of SR 72 and Jonestown Road. The crash involved an unknown vehicle driven by an unknown driver and a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 29-year-old Jonestown man. The driver of the Chevrolet was wearing a seatbelt and sustained no injuries.
Western Lebanon County Regional
Public drunkenness – At 10:36 p.m. Feb. 7, police responded to the Annville Township municipal parking lot at the corner of North White Oak and East Main streets for a disturbance. Police found a 64-year-old man who was manifestly under the influence of alcohol and in violation of the township noise ordinance. Two citations were filed with MDJ Ditzler’s office on Feb. 8, charging the man with summary public drunkenness and a summary violation of the noise ordinance.
Public drunkenness – At 7:05 p.m. Feb. 8, police responded to the intersection of East Maple and South Green streets in Palmyra for an intoxicated woman. The woman ran east on East Maple Street from the passenger’s seat of the vehicle that she was riding in. After an extensive search due to inclement weather, police located the 21-year-old woman. A non-traffic citation was filed with MDJ Warner’s office, charging the woman with summary public drunkenness.
Simple assault, harassment – At 2:25 a.m. Feb. 16, police responded to the 200 block of Horseshoe Drive in Annville a domestic dispute involving Christian Shifflett, 32, and another individual. Police arrested Shifflett for simple assault (domestic violence-related) and harassment and transported him to LCCB without incident.
Simple assault, harassment – On Dec. 15, police responded to the 900 block of East Maple Street in Palmyra for a disturbance. Police arrested Sumit Kumar, 23, for simple assault and harassment and transported him to LCCB without issue.
Public drunkenness – On Feb. 10, while on patrol, a Western Lebanon County Regional police officer observed a 28-year-old man, who was visibly intoxicated, walking on Oak and South Railroad streets in Palmyra. The man was transported safely home and charged with summary public drunkenness.
Don’t fall victim to scams – While not exclusive to tax return season, Western Lebanon County Regional police have seen an uptick in scam-related calls. Victims are contacted by text message, email, or phone call. The victims are “made aware” of a problem they need to fix. The most common scams center on unpaid turnpike tolls, a computer that has a virus, a family member who has been hospitalized or arrested, or a rental property that is not actually up for rent. Victims are then pressured or encouraged to give up sensitive information, such as bank account numbers or social security numbers. In many cases, victims are told they need to pay for a service, but can only do so by obtaining gift cards or making wire transfers from convenience stores.
Legitimate businesses and government entities do not operate like this. If you do not recognize a phone number, do not answer. If a voicemail does get left, you can take your time and determine whether the call was legitimate. Never click on links in text messages or emails if you cannot verify the sender. Take time and scrutinize the phone number, email address, and web address to avoid fakes. If you are ever unsure, please contact someone you trust or your local police department or directly contact the business or government office.
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