Bethel Township
Vehicle accident – Around 1:50 p.m. Feb. 18, a 2018 International Harvester semi-truck and trailer driven by a 34-year-old Fenton, Michigan, man attempted to make a right turn from North Center Street onto Walnut. While attempting to make the turn, the trailer struck and damaged a fire hydrant on the sidewalk. The driver then left the scene and was later located using the truck’s information.
City of Lebanon
Simple assault – On Feb. 24, police charged Christopher Pereyra-Pena, 28, with simple assault (domestic violence-related) after responding to the area of North Lincoln Avenue and Tiffany Lane for a domestic disturbance.
Aggravated assault, resisting arrest, drug possession, disorderly conduct – On Feb. 23, police charged Maria Quinones-Vazquez, 37, after attempting to arrest her on an outstanding warrant.
Resisting arrest, obstructing the administration of law – On Feb. 23, police charged Bryan Rodriguez-Rivera, 24, with resisting arrest, obstructing the administration of law, and emerging from alley after an incident on the 400 block of North 8th Street.
Escape, driving while suspended – On Feb. 24, police charged Andy Santell, 49, with escape, driving while operating privilege is suspended or revoked, and traffic-control signals after he fled from a traffic stop on the 200 block of Lehman Street.
Theft by unlawful taking – On Feb. 10, police charged Steven Rutter, 59, with theft by unlawful taking after an incident on the 200 block of South 8th Street.
Lebanon City Police Department visits Lebanon High School – The Lebanon City Police Department stopped by Lebanon High School over the weekend, where students were hosting a charity event to benefit the Humane Society of Lebanon County. The students’ efforts resulted in a collection of pet essentials, including food, treats, and toys for cats and dogs. The police department said great job, Lebanon High School!
Bigs in Blue program – In coordination with the Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA and Lebanon School District, the Lebanon City Police Department is participating in the Bigs in Blue Program. Ten officers have volunteered to mentor students throughout the district.
Pictured below is “Big in Blue Officer” Joe Ginder and little brother Felix. Felix is a second-grade student who wants to be a police officer like his new “Big Brother.” They are excited to “shoot hoops” outside and work on math assignments together.
Lebanon City Police Department is now hiring – The Lebanon City Police Department is hiring full-time police officers. The Police Civil Service Commission is accepting applications until Monday, March 31. Mailed applications will not be accepted.
All applicants must:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be 21 years of age upon return of the application.
- Possess a high school diploma or a GED.
The city will waive the $35 fee for the written test. Please be advised that PoliceApp will charge a non-refundable processing fee.
The police department will conduct a physical agility examination at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 5, at the Lebanon City Fire Department, 700 8th St., Lebanon. In addition, all Non-Act 120 applicants will be given the physical agility entrance exam for the HACC Police Academy immediately following. The written examination will be conducted following the successful completion of the physical agility test.
Please direct questions regarding this position to mzidik@lebanonpa.org.
South Lebanon Township
Drug possession – Around 10:05 a.m. Feb. 14, police pulled over a vehicle on the 700 block of East Walnut Street and learned that the vehicle was displaying counterfeit inspection stickers and that the driver, Donte Colston, 32, possessed illegal narcotics. Police charged Colston with a misdemeanor possession of a small amount of marijuana and summary violation of use of certificate of inspection.
Homicide by vehicle, aggravated assault by vehicle – Around 4:56 p.m. May 30, 2024, police responded to the intersection of State Drive and Schaeffer Road for a crash. Police charged Salomon Francoeur, 36, of Reading, with felony homicide by vehicle, three counts of felony aggravated assault by vehicle, summary reckless driving, and summary careless driving, and on Feb. 18, police issued an arrest warrant against Francoeur.
South Londonderry Township
Vehicle accident – At 3:43 p.m. Feb. 24, a motorcycle driven by a 20-year-old Lebanon woman crashed after losing control on the 2200 block of South Forge Road. Witnesses reported that speed was not a factor but believed the motorcycle lost control on some stones. The woman was transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries.
DUI crash – Police charged Brian Armold, 30, of Lebanon, with DUI-general impairment, DUI-high rate of alcohol, accidents involving attended vehicle, and driving vehicle at safe speed after he crashed his 2005 Harley-Davidson into another vehicle that was traveling in the same direction on the 2700 block of Horseshoe Pike on Jan. 17. Armold left the scene without providing information to the driver of the other vehicle but was later located by police and placed under arrest. Armold’s BAC was 0.157%.
Swatara Township
Vehicle accident – At 11:35 a.m. Feb. 21, it was reported that a road sign was struck in the area of Supervisor Drive and North Mill Street. Neighbors reported seeing an unknown individual picking up car parts along the way a few days before but had no additional information.
Union Township
Vehicle accident – Around 2:27 p.m. Feb. 1, police responded to the intersection of SR 72 and Jonestown Road for a hit-and-run crash. The struck vehicle was a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 29-year-old Jonestown man, who was wearing a seatbelt and sustained no injuries.
Western Lebanon County Regional
Simple assault, public drunkenness – At 10:36 p.m. Feb. 21, police responded to the rear of a property on the 00 block of West Main Street in Palmyra for a disturbance. Police found a person being actively assaulted by Bethany Smith, 38. Police took Smith into custody, charged her with misdemeanor simple assault, summary harassment, summary disorderly conduct, and summary public drunkenness, and transported her to LCCB without incident.
Bench warrant served – Around 9:11 a.m. Feb. 23, police encountered Troy Englehart, 62, who was known to have an active bench warrant out of the Lebanon County Sheriff’s Department for failure to appear, with the original charge being retail theft. The warrant was verified, and Englehart was taken into custody and transported to LCCB on the warrant.
Accident involving damage to attended property – On Feb. 9, police responded to a hit-and-run crash at Palm City Park in Annville. The striking vehicle struck an unattended vehicle, which ended up inside an occupied structure, and fled the scene. During the investigation, Adam Peters, 36, identified himself through his attorney to police as the driver involved. A criminal complaint was filed on Feb. 19, charging Peters with misdemeanor accident involving damage to attended property and several summary charges, including careless driving, duty to give information and render aid, and driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Dog law — What do I need to know? Whether you just got a puppy or have had your dog for years, there are a few laws that every dog owner should be aware of.
- Licensing – Every dog that is 3 months of age or older needs to have a license issued from the county treasurer’s office of your county of residence. Yearly licenses can be purchased at some local businesses or the county treasurer’s office. Lifetime licenses are available. Additional information can be found at the county treasurer’s website.
- Rabies vaccination – By the age of 4 months, every dog needs to have its initial rabies vaccination.
- Confinement – It is against the law for an owner to allow their dog to run loose. If a dog is not on its property, it must be under the reasonable control of its owner/handler.
Additional information can be found on the Pennsylvania Bureau of Dog Law Enforcement website.
Lebanon County District Attorney’s Office
Lebanon County jury convicts Darren Wallace of failing to register as a sexual offender – On Feb. 26, a Lebanon County jury convicted Darren Wallace of failing to comply with Megan’s Law registration requirements, a third-degree felony. The jury returned its verdict within 30 minutes.
Senior Deputy District Attorney Amy Muller prosecuted the case for the commonwealth. Public defender Michael Light represented Wallace. Captain Eric Sims of the Lebanon City Police Department filed the charge against him.
During trial, the jury heard from Sims and a member of the state police Megan’s Law Registration Unit. The jury learned that Wallace had annual registration requirements, which he complied with on prior occasions. By late February 2023, the defendant was homeless and camped in the woods, but failed to register his location with state police as required by law. Sentencing is set to occur on May 7.
The defendant’s Megan’s Law registration requirements stem from a 2004 conviction in Lancaster County, when Wallace was found guilty by a jury and convicted of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, and corruption of minors after he plied an underage female with alcohol and sexually assaulted her.
“Megan’s Law Registration exists so our citizens know the location of predators in our community. They want to keep their children and themselves safe. Convicted rapists cannot use intentional homelessness as a means to escape Megan’s Law. The jury saw right through the bogus defense and held a sexual predator accountable. We thank Captain Sims and the Lebanon Police Department for their hard work and congratulate Senior Deputy Muller on her hard-earned and well-deserved conviction,” said District Attorney Pier Hess Graf in a release.
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