Blotter: Misuse of 911 communications, burglary, theft from a motor vehicle

City of Lebanon

Drug charge, public drunkenness – On Sept. 5, police charged Joshua Hartman, 34, with possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness after responding to the 800 block of South 12th Street for a well-being check.

DUI – On Sept. 6, police charged Melissa Kirst, 52, with DUI-alcohol and accident involving damage to unattended property after responding to an accident on the 400 block of North 9th Street.

Theft from a motor vehicle – Lebanon City Police are investigating a theft from a vehicle at around 2 a.m. Sept. 1 on the 1000 block of Laurel Street. Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the incident is asked to contact police. 

Police congratulate officers – Lebanon City Police congratulate Officer Allen on his promotion to sergeant and Officer Whitman on his appointment to patrolman first class. Both officers have demonstrated professionalism, dedication, and commitment to serving the community. The police department is proud to celebrate their achievements and looks forward to their continued leadership and service.

9/11 Remembrance Walk – Lebanon City Police joined the Lebanon High School JROTC and Lebanon City Fire Department for a 9/11 Remembrance Walk. They walked three laps around the Lebanon High School campus, covering 2,000 steps. This symbolic act paid tribute to the brave first responders who climbed an astonishing 110 stories (2,071 steps) on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Twenty-four years later, the memory remains. May we continue to honor, remember, and stand united. Never forget. 9/11/2001.

Attention riders – Lebanon City Police remind operators of bicycles and motorized vehicles, including dirt bikes, minibikes, and motorized scooters, to comply with city motor vehicle code regulations when riding on streets and alleyways. As police work to ensure a safe community, they ask that you take an active role in promoting a respectful and secure environment for everyone. To learn more about local motor vehicle laws, refer to the following resources:

• Register a Motor Scooter or Personal Mobility Device
• PA Micromobility fact sheet
• Mopeds, Motor-Driven Cycles and Motorcycles
• Bicycle Safety and Pennsylvania Laws

Lebanon County Regional

DUI, drug possession – At 11:44 p.m. June 18, police pulled over a vehicle on the 400 block of North 18th Street in West Lebanon Township and found the driver, Jeremy Schroll, 41, to be under the influence of alcohol and multiple controlled substances and in possession of multiple controlled substances and drug paraphernalia. Police arrested Schroll and charged him with five counts of misdemeanor DUI, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, summary general lighting requirements, summary classes of licenses, and summary protective equipment for motorcycle riders.

Retail theft – At 11:42 a.m. June 23, police responded to Walmart in North Lebanon Township after Genesis Vazquez Hernandez, 32, stole merchandise worth $398. Police charged Vazquez Hernandez with misdemeanor retail theft.

Retail theft – At 5:33 p.m. June 23, police responded to Walmart in North Lebanon Township after Glenn Miller, 49, stole merchandise valued at $556. Miller was found to have five prior convictions for retail theft. Police charged Miller with felony retail theft.

Misuse of 911 communications, harassment – Around 2:59 a.m. June 25, police responded to the 1100 block of Jay Street in North Lebanon Township for repeated calls to 911 and identified the caller as Nichole Kolovani, 44. Police said Kolovani called 911 13 times over three hours for non-emergency issues and became belligerent, yelling and using profanity with dispatchers. Police charged Kolovani with misdemeanor misuse of 911 communications and summary harassment.

Burglary – At 4:02 a.m. July 2, police responded to a burglary on the 2000 block of Lehman Street in West Lebanon Township after a woman entered the residence while the occupants slept in their bed. According to a report, the woman entered the main bedroom, walked past the sleeping occupants, removed her clothing, brushed her teeth, wrapped herself in a towel, and left, leaving behind her clothing, jewelry, and shoes. The occupants woke to see the woman going down the stairs and fleeing the residence. Police identified the woman as Jami Bonilla, 43, and charged her with felony burglary, felony criminal trespass, and misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking.

DUI, drug possession – At 12:37 a.m. July 8, police pulled over a vehicle on the 1600 block of West Cumberland Street in West Lebanon Township and found the driver, Briana Weaver, 22, to be driving while under the influence of a controlled substance and in possession of drug paraphernalia. Police arrested Weaver and charged her with two counts of misdemeanor DUI, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, summary general lighting requirements, summary turning movements and required signals, certificate of inspection required, summary driving while suspended, and summary required financial responsibility.

DUI, driving while suspended – At 1:53 a.m. Aug. 10, police pulled over a vehicle in the area of North 16th and Cumberland streets in West Lebanon Township and found the driver, Christian Maldonado Morales, 32, to be driving under the influence and driving while operating privileges were DUI-suspended. Police charged Maldonado Morales with two counts of misdemeanor DUI, two counts of summary driving while suspended (DUI-related), and summary duties at a stop sign.

Retail theft – At 4:44 p.m. Aug. 19, police responded to Weis Markets in North Lebanon Township after Eric Gross, 63, committed retail theft on five occasions between June 9 and July 17, totaling $66.85. Gross was found to have three or more prior convictions for retail theft. Police charged Gross with felony retail theft.

Community event on Sept. 6 in Gloninger Park – On Saturday, Sept. 6, Lebanon County Regional Police participated in a community event benefiting local first responders. Police were honored to meet so many wonderful residents of North Cornwall Township and share in a day filled with fun and support.

Station 14 Fire Department, First Aid and Safety Patrol, and the Lebanon County SWAT Team’s Bearcat were all on-site. Kids enjoyed bounce houses and games while families grabbed food from Chick-fil-A and the “Snack Shack” run by Tom Long and his wife, with all proceeds going to support local heroes.

The Lebanon County Regional Police Department is truly grateful to serve such a supportive and caring community. The police department thanks you for standing with them — they’re proud to stand with you.

Honoring the heroes of 9/11 – On Sept. 11, 2001, hundreds of first responders ran toward danger, driven by duty, love, and selfless courage. Today, we honor their sacrifice and remember their bravery. Lives lost in the line of duty:

• 344 firefighters (343 FDNY + one fire patrolman)
• 69 law enforcement officers
• Eight EMS personnel

Their legacy lives on in every life they protected and every moment they gave in service to others. Never forget. 9/11/2001.

South Lebanon Township

Paving project – Due to a PennDOT milling and paving project, no parking will be permitted on East Cumberland Street from Monday through Friday, Sept. 15-19, between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. Vehicles parked in violation will be towed at the owner’s expense. Expect delays and allow extra time for travel through the area.

Child passenger safety enforcement – South Lebanon Township Police will join dozens of departments across the commonwealth from Sunday, Sept. 14, through Wednesday, Sept. 24, to conduct special enforcement details focused on child passenger safety.

Vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children under 13, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. During this campaign, South Lebanon Township officers will look for seat belt violations, especially those involving passengers 12 years of age and younger. Officers remind motorists of the following Pennsylvania child passenger safety requirements:

• Newborn to age 2: Must be in a rear-facing car seat.
• Ages 2 to 4: Must be in a five-point harness restraint.
• Ages 4 to 8: Must be in a booster seat.
• Ages 12 and under: It is strongly recommended that they always ride in the back seat.

For more information on child seat restraint systems and Pennsylvania laws, click here. Buckle up. Every ride. Every time.

South Londonderry Township

Vehicle accident – At 6:53 a.m. Sept. 5, a Chevrolet sedan driven by a 21-year-old Palmyra female became stuck on a curb on Palmyra Road, just north of Route 322, when she attempted to make a U-turn. No injuries were reported and the sedan was towed.

Vehicle accident – At 3:04 p.m. Sept. 6, police responded to Turkey Hill in Campbelltown for a crash in the parking lot and learned that a 67-year-old Palmyra woman drove over a curb in front of the store, striking a trash can and the store front. No injuries were reported.

Western Lebanon County Regional

DUI, careless driving – At 2:30 a.m. June 17, police responded to an accident involving a vehicle striking a parked vehicle and identified the driver as Joshua Hartman, 34. Police said Hartman showed multiple signs of impairment and discovered that Hartman had several drugs in his system at the time of the crash. On Aug. 30, police charged Hartman with four counts of misdemeanor DUI-drugs, summary careless driving, and summary driving on right side of roadway.

DUI, drug possession – At 8:52 p.m. July 22, police responded to Main and Green streets in Palmyra for a man passed out behind the wheel of a running vehicle in the intersection. Police identified the driver as Mark Piecyk, 47, and said he was visibly under the influence and was arrested for DUI. He was also found to be in possession of crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia. Blood results later showed that Piecyk had marijuana, cocaine, and fentanyl in his system. On Aug. 27, police charged Piecyk with six counts of misdemeanor DUI-drug, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Driving while suspended – Around 6:23 p.m. Aug. 28, police pulled over a black Volvo XC 60 on the 400 block of West Main Street in Annville and identified the driver as Tony Kreider, 45, of Palmyra. Police said Kreider’s license was DUI-suspended and that Kreider had been charged with driving while suspended (DUI-related) on three prior occasions. On Sept. 1, a criminal complaint was filed with MDJ Ditzler’s office, charging Kreider with misdemeanor driving while suspended, DUI-related, third or subsequent offense.

Bench warrants served, drug possession – Around 9:10 p.m. Aug. 28, police located William Fisher, 60, on the 600 block of North Chestnut Street in Palmyra. Fisher had several active warrants out of Lebanon County for failure to appear, was arrested, and was found to be in possession of methamphetamines and prescription pills. Police transported Fisher to LCCB and charged him with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Drug possession – At 10:47 a.m. Sept. 1, police responded to the 500 block of East Main Street in Palmyra for two people causing a disturbance. Police located one of the subjects, identified as Britany Arnold, 47, who was found to be in possession of crack cocaine and related drug paraphernalia. Police charged Arnold with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

Evading arrest or detention on foot – On Sept. 8, police observed Brandon Zearfoss, 36, on the 100 block of West Water Street in Annville. Zearfoss had three active warrants for failure to appear, with the original charges being burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal trespass. Zearfoss fled on his bicycle, crossed a creek on foot, and attempted to hide in the woods but was soon found running from the area and was taken into custody. Zearfoss was transported to LCCB and charged with misdemeanor evading arrest or detention on foot, which was filed through MDJ Ditzler’s office.

Several Lebanon County municipalities

Vehicle crime in your neighborhood? – Auto theft and other vehicle crimes hit differently depending on the environment, so drivers need to consider their risk as well as different prevention tactics depending on where they park their car. Vehicle crime may seem like a game of “whack-a-mole,” in which law enforcement is able to tamp down one type of crime, but it pops up in a different form. While most people are aware of the danger of carjacking or stolen cars, there are other types of vehicle crime that can be problematic for drivers in any neighborhood:

• Handle flipping – Thieves strike a variety of neighborhoods, whether along a busy city street or in quiet suburban driveways. Thieves can work alone or in groups to simply “flip” car handles to try to access as many vehicles as possible on a given night. They can steal items in the car, gain access to a garage or house through a remote opener or a house key left in the vehicle, and try to steal your car. This crime can occur in waves, with criminals returning to the same streets or neighborhoods over time.
• Predictable places and patterns – Anytime your schedule or whereabouts become predictable, there is an opportunity for a criminal to strike. They know you will be occupied for some time, for instance, if you’re headed into a gym to work out, into a mall to shop, or into a casino to play games. Criminals look to seize on the opportunity, hoping you have left valuables in your car, or even worse, they are willing to break in or steal it. Be sure to hide anything that would lure someone to target your car. Vary your parking location, look for security cameras, and park in well-lit, well-trafficked parking spots.

Why should I care? Vehicle crime impacts everyone. Even if your car is not stolen, vehicle-related crimes impact your safety, the safety of your community, and your wallet. When cars are stolen by force, the situation can be dangerous for the driver or anyone else nearby. Stolen cars are often used to commit other violent crimes like burglary or assault. If you leave your car registration, mail, bills, work files, or other sensitive information in your car, you and your family also become vulnerable to identity theft and home intrusion. When vehicles or parts are stolen, insurance rates may increase. We all pay the price.

What can I do? Be aware of your surroundings, pay attention, and always lock your car and take your key. Common sense is not always common practice. Don’t give a thief the opportunity. Protect yourself. Protect your community.

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