Blotter: Aggravated assault, firearms charge, hindering apprehension

Cleona Borough

DUI arrest – On April 1, 2026, a Cleona police officer observed an e-bike on U.S. Route 422 at approximately 9:00 p.m. The bike was observed failing to stop for a red light. A traffic stop was initiated and the operator Mark Hess, age 47, exhibited signs of impairment. He was placed under arrest for driving while under the influence. The e-bike was impounded by the police. “It important to realize you can be charged with driving while impaired while operating an e-bike,” said Cleona chief Jeffrey Farneski in a news release.

City of Lebanon

Drug possession, public drunkenness – Around 7:30 p.m. March 28, police responded to the 1200 block of Chestnut Street in Lebanon for an intoxicated subject. Police located Thomas Beard, 36, and, while speaking with him, noted multiple signs that indicated Beard was under the influence of a controlled substance. Police also located narcotic-related paraphernalia on his person. Police charged Beard with possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

Drug possession – Around 11 p.m. March 28, police pulled over a vehicle on the 1200 block of Cumberland Street in Lebanon and identified the passenger in the vehicle as Brooke Behney, 33, who was known to have a warrant for her arrest. Upon taking Behney into custody, police located additional controlled substances and narcotic-related paraphernalia on her person. Police transported Behney to LCCB and charged Behney with possession of a controlled substance.

Firearms not to be carried without a license – Around 11:30 p.m. March 29, police responded to the area of North 4th and Willow streets in Lebanon for a bicycle accident. Police met with Angel DeJesus, 35, and located a loaded handgun on DeJesus’s person, which they determined he did not have a valid license to carry concealed. Police charged DeJesus with firearms not to be carried without a license.

Hindering apprehension – Around 1:30 p.m. March 30, police pulled over a vehicle on the 200 block of South 8th Street in Lebanon after spotting a passenger with an outstanding arrest warrant. The passenger was the boyfriend of Corinne Graham, 58. Earlier, Graham was questioned by police about her boyfriend’s whereabouts, but she refused to cooperate. Police cautioned Graham that if she were found with her boyfriend again, she would face charges of hindering apprehension.

Aggravated assault, robbery – Around 6:45 p.m. March 31, police responded to Locust and Cherry streets in Lebanon for a disturbance and found that Melanie Perez, 25, had confronted a person in a vehicle with two other women, attempting to provoke a fight. During the altercation, Perez struck the other person on the head with a hammer through the open window of the vehicle. Perez also removed the license plate from the other person’s vehicle. Police later apprehended Perez without incident and charged her with aggravated assault and robbery.

Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 29-year-old woman after an incident at around 4:20 a.m. March 1 in the area of North Partridge and Spring streets.

Disorderly conduct – On March 5, police charged four women after a fighting incident on an evening in January on the 600 block of North 9th Street.

Public drunkenness – On March 5, police charged a 45-year-old man after an incident at around 2 a.m. in January on the 600 block of Cumberland Street.

Disorderly conduct – On March 5, police charged a 25-year-old man after an incident on a late morning in January on the 300 block of Federal Street.

Harassment – On March 8, police charged a 44-year-old woman for an incident at around 9 p.m. March 6 on the 500 block of Pershing Avenue.

Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 32-year-old man for an incident at around 8:45 p.m. March 9 in the area of 12th and Walnut streets.

Discharging firearms –On March 13, police charged a 40-year-old man with discharging firearms for an incident at around 6 p.m. in February on the 200 block of Chestnut Street.

Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 63-year-old man for an incident at around 3 p.m. March 15 on the 400 block of Pershing Avenue.

Public drunkenness – On March 12, police charged a 41-year-old man after an incident at around 1 a.m. March 8 on the 200 block of East Weidman Street.

Public drunkenness – On March 12, police charged a 44-year-old woman after an incident at around 1 a.m. March 8 on the 200 block of East Weidman Street.

Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 36-year-old man after an incident a aroutnd 5:40 p.m. March 14 on the 300 block of North 8th Street.

Transportation, possession, or consumption in public places – Police charged a 70-year-old man with transportation, possession, or consumption in public places after an incident at around 11 a.m. March 10, along the walking path near the 00 block of North 12th Street.

Public drunkenness – Police charged a 49-year-old man after an incident at around 4 p.m. March 20 on the 100 block of North 7th Street.

Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 31-year-old woman after an incident a arountd 6:30 p.m. March 27 on the 500 block of South Lincoln Avenue.

Equipment of a private hauler – Police charged a 41-year-old woman after an incident at around 8:30 a.m. March 27 on the 800 block of Walnut Street.

Public drunkenness – Police charged a 49-year-old man after an incident at around 1:15 a.m. March 28 on the 600 block of Locust Street.

Disorderly conduct – On March 31, police charged a 61-year-old man after an incident at around 10 a.m. March 21 on the 800 block of Cumberland Street.

Lebanon County Regional

Criminal mischief – On Dec. 28, police received information regarding vandalism at Stashaway Storage in North Lebanon Township. An investigation revealed that two juvenile boys spray-painted property belonging to the business. Police charged both juveniles with criminal mischief for the damages.

Drug possession, public drunkenness – At 4:15 p.m. Jan. 11, police responded to PetSmart in North Cornwall Township for an intoxicated subject. Police said Thomas Beard, 36, was under the influence of narcotics and was in possession of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia. Police charged Beard with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, and summary public drunkenness.

Retail theft – Police charged Suheil Velez Rovira, 36, with misdemeanor retail theft after a Feb. 18 incident at Target in North Cornwall Township, when Velez Rovira stole $221.98 worth of merchandise.

Theft from a motor vehicle – At 4:18 p.m. March 7, police responded to the 1600 block of Center Street in North Cornwall Township after Matthew Butler, 37, allegedly broke into a vehicle and stole property. Police apprehended Butler on March 7 on other charges and recovered the stolen property. Police charged him with misdemeanor theft from a motor vehicle.

Drug possession – Around 7:03 p.m. March 7, police were on the 1600 block of West Cumberland Street in Lebanon when they observed a black Dodge Ram without headlights or taillights activated. Police pulled over the vehicle and identified the driver as Brandyn Castro, 19. Police found Castro to be in possession of marijuana and filed a charge of misdemeanor possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Retail theft – Around 5:26 p.m. March 25, police responded to Target in North Cornwall Township and learned that a 43-year-old woman had stolen $92.99 worth of merchandise from the store. Police charged her with summary retail theft.

Bench warrant served – On March 29, police pulled over a U-Haul utility van on the 2600 block of Tunnel Hill Road in Lebanon for a traffic violation. Police identified a passenger as Alejandro Astacio-Diaz, 21, who was wanted out of Cumberland County, and took him into custody on the warrant.

North Londonderry Township

Theft from cash register – On March 15, police responded to Walmart, where management reported that Tyler Lynch, 23, of Palmyra, took $20 while working at a cash register on March 1 and took $40 from the register on March 2. Police charged Lynch with misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking or disposition.

Vehicle accident – On April 1, police responded to a crash in the Walmart parking lot. The driver, a 66-year-old Grantville man, told police he turned too sharply in the parking lot and his car struck a yellow bollard, causing front-end damage and airbag deployment. The driver sustained a hand injury, and EMS evaluated him on the scene, but he did not seek further treatment. The vehicle was towed from the scene.

South Lebanon Township

Officer Moser visits Pine Grove Area Elementary School – Officer Christopher Moser recently visited Pine Grove Area Elementary School to spend time with students and share what it’s like to serve as a police officer.

During his visit, Officer Moser spoke with elementary students about his role in the community, answered their thoughtful questions, and provided insight into day-to-day police work. The highlight for many was getting up close to a patrol vehicle — checking it out, seeing the lights in action, and of course, hearing the sirens.

The visit was an engaging and interactive experience for everyone involved, and South Lebanon Police appreciates the opportunity to connect with the community’s youngest members in a positive and educational setting.

South Londonderry Township

Vehicle accident, DUI, careless driving, driving on roadways laned for traffic – Police charged Jay Risser Jr., 38, of Annville, with DUI-general impairment, DUI-highest rate, careless driving, and driving on roadways laned for traffic following a crash at 5:54 p.m. Jan. 17 on the 5400 block of Elizabethtown Road. Risser’s vehicle was disabled when it veered off the road and struck a tree. Risser was transported to the hospital and had a BAC of 0.270%.

Vehicle accident – At 6:22 a.m. March 27, a vehicle driven by a 31-year-old Elizabethtown woman exited the road on the 300 block of Schoolhouse Road in Palmyra and struck a tree. No injuries were reported.

Vehicle accident – At 2:45 a.m. March 28, a Honda Civic driven by a 24-year-old Jonestown man crashed after the man failed to keep the Honda on the road while negotiating a curve on the 5400 block of Elizabethtown Road. No injuries were reported. The Honda was towed from the scene.

Western Lebanon County Regional

Simple assault, harassment – Charges of misdemeanor simple assault (domestic violence-related) and summary harassment were filed against Tyler Anspach, 37. Charges stem from an incident on the 100 block of South Forge Road, Palmyra, on March 19, when Anspach assaulted another subject, causing injuries.

Simple assault, harassment – At 2:02 p.m. April 2, police responded to the 00 block of North Railroad Street in Palmyra for a domestic dispute. Police identified Jesse Thomas, 33, as a subject involved in the incident and determined that he assaulted another subject, causing injuries. Police arrested Thomas on charges of misdemeanor simple assault (domestic violence-related) and summary harassment. Police transported Thomas to LCCB with bail set at $5,000 secured.

Multiple municipalities

About the LebTown Blotter
We do not publish names for traffic accidents and summary offenses.
Read more in our “Right to be Forgotten” policy.