Bethel Township
Vehicle accident – At 12:13 a.m. Aug. 29, a 2022 Kenworth Northwest driven by a 39-year-old Pine Grove man was traveling east on SR 22 when the vehicle left its lane to avoid a deer, clipped the barrier, and jumped the raised median before overturning. The semi-truck and trailer was removed from the scene by Bethel Trucking. The driver was wearing a seatbelt, sustained a suspected minor injury, and was not transported. Police charged the driver with driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Vehicle accident – Around 12:24 p.m. Sept. 10, a crash occurred at Mount Zion Road and Prescott Drive. The driver of a 2015 Toyota Corolla reported that the driver of a 2023 Honda CRV went around her while at the stop sign on Prescott Drive. However, the driver of the Honda reported that the Toyota driver entered the road from the stop sign and struck her while traveling north on Mount Zion Road. The Toyota was missing its front bumper, and the Honda sustained damage to its right side. Fire police provided police with names and phone numbers for two witnesses.
Vehicle accident – At 4:43 a.m. Sept. 12, a 2019 Chevrolet Equinox came to a sudden stop on the 400 block of Freeport Road without signaling. A 2002 Toyota Tacoma, which was traveling behind the Chevrolet, attempted to pass on the left because there was not a shoulder on the right, but the Chevrolet turned left and the Toyota struck the Chevrolet’s driver’s side mirror. No injuries were reported. Both vehicles were driven from the scene.
City of Lebanon
Unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, DUI – On Sept. 7, police charged Michael Latta, 37, with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, DUI-alcohol, accidents involving damage to an unattended vehicle, and driving while suspended after an incident on the 300 block of South Partridge Street.
Retail theft – On Sept. 7, police charged Jose Torres-Morales, 33, after an incident on the 800 block of South 12th Street.
Resisting arrest – On Sept. 8, police charged Michael Hernandez, 48, with resisting arrest, evading arrest or detention on foot, and possession of drug paraphernalia after police stopped him on the 900 block of Mifflin Street on an active bench warrant.
Criminal mischief, disorderly conduct – On Sept. 9, police charged Maria Casiano-Rosa, 48, after responding to a disturbance on the 200 block of South 6th Street.
Drug possession – On Sept. 10, police charged Onix Garcia, 59, with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after stopping him on the 100 block of Weidman Street on an active warrant.
Firearms not to be carried without a license – On Sept. 11, police charged Dagni Torres-Diaz, 36, after a traffic stop in the area of 10th and Elm streets.
Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance – On Sept. 11, police charged Jesus Angelo-Ortiz, 46, with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia after an incident on the 400 block of Lehman Street.
Drug possession – On Sept. 11, police charged Sheri Brandt, 36, with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after a traffic stop on the 200 block of South 12th Street.
Fire Prevention Open House – The city of Lebanon will host a Fire Prevention Open House on Monday, Oct. 6, from 6 to 7:30 p.m., at 700 S. 8th St. Come out and support local first responders and tour the fire station. Shop food trucks. Let the kids explore fun fire safety activities. The police department said it’s a great evening for the whole family — they hope to see you there!
Heidelberg Township
Vehicle accident – At 5:42 p.m. Sept. 4, a 2015 Toyota Tacoma with a trailer driven by a 52-year-old East Petersburg man was traveling north on state Route 501, passing two farm vehicles described as John Deere tractors. The Toyota was in the southbound lane, preparing to pass the farm vehicles. A northbound John Deere 4044R driven by a 62-year-old Myerstown man was stopped, preparing to make a left turn, and was struck by the Toyota on its driver’s side front tire. No injuries were reported. The Toyota sustained disabling damage to its truck and trailer. The John Deere sustained functional damage. Police charged the driver of the Toyota with no passing zones.
Vehicle accident – At 12:07 a.m. Sept. 15, a 2021 Honda Accord was traveling west on SR 897 at a high rate of speed and exited the road on the right side into a corn field. The Honda was driven out of the field. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and sustained no injuries. Police charged the driver with obedience to traffic-control devices.
Jackson Township
Vehicle accident, careless driving – At 8:12 a.m. Aug. 22, a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by a 17-year-old Bethel male was traveling east on East Rosebud Street. A garbage truck driven by a 55-year-old Robesonia man was stopped while workers were collecting garbage cans at a residence. The Ford was driving faster than the posted speed limit and rear-ended the garbage truck. No injuries were reported. The Ford was towed from the scene. The garbage truck was driven from the scene. Police charged the juvenile with careless driving and driving vehicle at a safe speed.
DUI crash involving a minor – At 2:30 a.m. Aug. 23, a 2012 Volkswagen Jetta driven by a 16-year-old Myerstown male was traveling west on King Street, exited the right side of the road, struck a pole, and struck a 2004 Chevrolet S10 and a 2012 Acura MDX, both of which were parked and unoccupied. No injuries were reported. The juvenile was found to be under the influence of alcohol, was taken into custody, and submitted to a legal blood draw. The Volkswagen sustained disabling damage and was towed from the scene by RJ Sells. The Chevrolet and the Acura were left at the scene. Police charged the juvenile with driving vehicle at a safe speed.
Harassment – At 10:52 p.m. Aug. 24, a 21-year-old Myerstown man and a 41-year-old Myerstown man punched each other on West Main Avenue. Police charged both men with harassment.
Vehicle accident – At 5:42 p.m. Sept. 13, a 2008 Hyundai Elantra was parked for an Amazon delivery on Earl Drive at Cindy Drive when it was struck by a 2009 Ford Flex, which was backing on Earl Drive to turn onto Cindy Drive. Both vehicles sustained minor damage and were driven from the scene.
Lebanon County Regional
Retail theft – At 11:42 a.m. June 23, police responded to Walmart in North Lebanon Township where Genesis Vazquez-Hernandez, 32, allegedly stole merchandise worth $398. On Sept. 10, police charged Vazquez-Hernandez with misdemeanor retail theft and issued an arrest warrant against her.
Simple assault – At 10:03 p.m. Sept. 5, police responded to the 1100 block of Kochenderfer Road in North Lebanon Township for a domestic dispute. Police found a subject with a laceration on her right eyebrow from being struck by an object. The subject identified the assailant as Dennis Bashore Jr., 49. Police were unable to locate Bashore and obtained an arrest warrant against him for misdemeanor simple assault.
Robbery, harassment – At 2:41 p.m. Sept. 11, police responded to the 2500 block of Emma Road in North Lebanon Township for a physical domestic in progress. Police said Lucas Kutch, 25, attempted to steal a lawn mower belonging to an elderly family member. When challenged by family members, Kutch assaulted them and stole a large amount of cash prior to fleeing into the surrounding farm fields. Kutch was later found hiding inside a nearby barn by a K9 tracking dog. Police took Kutch into custody and charged him with felony robbery, misdemeanor attempted theft by unlawful taking, and summary harassment.
Law & Order: Softball edition – Softball + Service = A Home Run Day! Members of the Lebanon County Regional Police Department, along with officers from several other county departments, hit the field on Saturday, Sept. 13, for a softball tournament benefiting the South Lebanon Fire Department. Big thanks to their firefighter friends for the invite — fun was had by all (even if their batting average says otherwise). They’re already looking forward to next year’s rematch!
Scam alert – What’s happening with QR code scams?
- “Quishing” is on the rise. Cybercriminals are increasingly using QR codes to trick people into visiting malicious websites or downloading malware. These scams often appear in:
- Unsolicited packages with QR codes.
- Fake parking meter stickers.
- Emails or texts with QR codes claiming to fix account issues or confirm deliveries.
- FBI issues warnings. The FBI has warned that scammers are sending mystery packages with QR codes that, when scanned, lead to phishing sites or install malware. These packages often lack sender information to pique curiosity and encourage scanning.
- Millions are already affected. According to NordVPN, 73 percent of Americans scan QR codes without verifying them, and over 26 million have been directed to malicious sites. These scams are low-effort, high-reward for attackers.
How these scams work:
- Scammers replace legitimate QR codes with fake ones in public places.
- They embed malicious links that look like real websites.
- Victims may unknowingly enter sensitive information or download malware.
Tips to stay safe:
- Don’t scan QR codes from unknown sources or unsolicited packages.
- Verify the URL before clicking any link after scanning.
- Use secure QR code scanner apps that preview the link.
- Report suspicious activity to the FBI’s IC3 portal.
Millcreek Township
Vehicle accident – At 10:04 a.m. Sept. 13, a 1986 Ford Mustang driven by a 31-year-old Landisville man was traveling north on North Millbach Road. The Ford began to speed up because the throttle got stuck and exited the road, struck an embankment, and entered a corn field. The Ford sustained minor damage and was towed from the scene. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and sustained no injuries. Police charged the driver with driving at safe speed.
North Annville Township
Vehicle accident – At 4:39 a.m. Sept. 15, a 2022 Ford was traveling west on SR 422 when a deer ran into the road and the Ford struck the deer. The Ford sustained minor front-end damage. No injuries were reported.
North Lebanon Township
DUI – At 10:32 p.m. Sept. 6, a 21-year-old Lebanon man operated a gray 2018 Ford F150XLT with a third door on the passenger’s side on Grace Avenue while under the influence of alcohol. Police charged the man with DUI-alcohol.
North Londonderry Township
Retail theft – At 6:53 p.m. Aug. 11, police were contacted by Walmart Loss Prevention regarding Jennifer Fahler, 25, and Penelope Fahler, 54, both of Lebanon, committing multiple under-ringing thefts. They reported that between June 7 and Aug. 9, 12 under-ringing incidents occurred, with the total amount that was not properly scanned being $902.64. Police charged both subjects with misdemeanor retail theft. Charges were filed with MDJ Warner’s office.
Confinement of dogs – At 3:51 p.m. Sept. 10, police responded to the area of Grubb Road and Buttonwood Street for a dog running loose. Due to previous contact with the dog, police identified the owner as a 23-year-old Palmyra man. At the time of contact, the dog was not licensed. Police charged the man with summary confinement of dogs and summary application for license.
South Londonderry Township
Public drunkenness – At 10:52 p.m. Sept. 6, police responded to the area of South Forge and Hinkle roads for a report of an intoxicated subject. Police made contact with a 39-year-old Lancaster resident and, a short time later, a 39-year-old Palmyra woman. Police charged both subjects with public drunkenness.
Hit-and-run crash – At 5:46 p.m. Sept. 9, police responded to the 100 block of Schoolhouse Road after a tractor-trailer struck a utility pole, downing utility wires. Police closed the road. Campbelltown Fire Company assisted on the scene. No injuries were reported. The tractor-trailer left the scene prior to police arrival, but police identified the driver as a 70-year-old Forestburgh, New York, man.
Vehicle accident – At 8:16 p.m. Sept. 12, police responded to the 100 block of Schoolhouse Road in Palmyra after a vehicle driven by a 43-year-old Palmyra man struck a vehicle parked on the shoulder of the road. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Vehicle accident – At 4:53 p.m. Sept. 17, a Ford F150 driven by an 83-year-old Hershey man collided with a Ford Explorer driven by a 43-year-old Hershey woman. The woman’s vehicle was stopped in the eastbound left turn lane of Horseshoe Pike, waiting to turn onto Palmyra Road when it was struck by a westbound vehicle on Horseshoe Pike. All occupants were treated on the scene for injuries. Both vehicles were towed.
Swatara Township
Vehicle accident – At 4:20 p.m. Sept. 12, a 2003 Ford Taurus X driven by a 19-year-old Fredericksburg man and a 2016 Ford Focus driven by a 35-year-old Jonestown woman were traveling east on Lickdale Road when the Focus slowed to enter a residential driveway. The Taurus X driver failed to notice and struck the Focus. The Taurus X was towed from the scene. The man was wearing a seatbelt and sustained no injuries. The woman was wearing a seatbelt, sustained a possible injury, and was evaluated on the scene but refused medical treatment.
Western Lebanon County Regional
Theft of services – Around 8:58 p.m. Sept. 5, police responded to the 500 block of East Main Street in Palmyra for a reported theft at the Dutch Motel. Police confirmed that Carlos Rodriguez, 31, had left without paying for his stay. Police charged Rodriguez with misdemeanor theft of services.
Disorderly conduct, resisting arrest – At 3:41 p.m. Sept. 12, police responded to the 00 block of South Hetrick Avenue in Palmyra for an intoxicated subject causing a disturbance. Police located Pabi Bajgai, 31, placed her under arrest, and transported her to LCCB on charges of misdemeanor disorderly conduct, misdemeanor resisting arrest, and summary public drunkenness.
The Detective Rian Bell Beat Cancer fundraiser – On Saturday, Oct. 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Derry Township Police and friends will host a chicken barbecue fundraiser in the parking lot of the Derry Township Police Department, 620 Clearwater Road, Hershey. One of their own, Detective Rian Bell, a 17-year veteran of the department, was recently diagnosed with stage three colon cancer. He will undergo constant treatment in Philadelphia over the next six months. Funds raised will go toward assisting his family with lodging, transportation, and meals.
Undisclosed location
Sobriety checkpoint – PSP Jonestown will conduct a sobriety checkpoint at an undisclosed location in Lebanon County in early September. Police will select the sobriety checkpoint location based on locations with higher numbers of DUI violations and crashes.
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