Bethel Township
DUI – At 9:35 p.m. Dec. 6, police responded to SR 22 and Blue Mountain Road for a report of a stolen vehicle. Police determined that Kerry Newland, 46, of Littlestown, was inside the grocery store for approximately 20 minutes. When he exited the store, he forgot where he parked his 2012 Toyota Highlander and believed it was stolen. The vehicle was found in a parking stall with the keys in the ignition. Newland showed signs of impairment and was taken into custody on suspicion of DUI.
City of Lebanon
Arrest warrant – On Nov. 20, police issued an arrest warrant against Joshua Pond, 31, with the original charge being possession of a controlled or counterfeit substance.
Arrest warrant – On Dec. 7, police issued an arrest warrant against Carol Kneasel, 59, with the original charge being trespass.
Arrest warrant – On Dec. 7, police issued an arrest warrant against Brian Fahler, 54, with the original charge being retail theft.
Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 10-year-old male with disorderly conduct after an incident at 10:05 p.m. Oct. 27 in the area of Lebanon Village.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 38-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 7:16 p.m. Nov. 2 on the 300 block of North 5th Street.
Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 40-year-old Lebanon man with disorderly conduct after an incident at 2:43 p.m. Nov. 3 on the 00 block of South 9th Street.
Criminal mischief – Police charged a 35-year-old Lebanon woman with criminal mischief after an incident at 9:09 a.m. Nov. 7 on the 400 block of Willow Street.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 24-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 5:30 a.m. Nov. 10 in the area of Lehman and 13th streets.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 53-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 9:04 p.m. Nov. 10 on the 100 block of North 11th Avenue.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 19-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10 on the 300 block of East Weidman Street.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 53-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 8:09 a.m. Nov. 11 on the 100 block of North 11th Avenue.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 53-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 5:10 p.m. Nov. 11 on the 100 block of North 11th Avenue.
Public drunkenness, disorderly conduct – Police charged a 20-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness and disorderly conduct after an incident at 4:27 a.m. Nov. 12 on the 1100 block of Chestnut Street.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 46-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 12:30 p.m. Nov. 15 on the 300 block of Schneider Drive.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 46-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 3:55 a.m. Nov. 15 on the 300 block of Cumberland Street.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 43-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 8:51 a.m. Nov. 21 on the 1200 block of Miller Street.
Public drunkenness – Police charged a 53-year-old Lebanon man with public drunkenness after an incident at 7:51 p.m. Nov. 21 on the 800 block of Bowman Street.
Disorderly conduct – Police charged a 36-year-old Lebanon woman with disorderly conduct after an incident at 7:14 a.m. Nov. 21 on the 1300 block of Church Street.
Retail theft – Police charged a 54-year-old Lebanon woman with retail theft after an incident at 11:26 a.m. Nov. 27 on the 900 block of Church Street.
Criminal trespass, drug possession – On Oct. 25, police charged Victor Desimone Jr., 46, with criminal trespass, manufacture or possession of designer drug, misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia after he entered a property on the 700 block of Guilford Street without the owner’s permission. The property has “No Trespass” signs posted. When police arrived, officers found Desimone and a backpack containing personal items, drugs, and drug paraphernalia.
Burglary, flight to avoid apprehension, criminal mischief – Police charged Justin Myer, 41, with burglary (overnight accommodations-person present), flight to avoid apprehension, and misdemeanor criminal mischief after police were called to assist the sheriff’s office with a warrant service on Myer on Oct. 24. Myer fled from his home on the 400 block of Lehman Street and forcefully gained entrance into a nearby residence, which was occupied at the time by two people. Police took Myer into custody.
Police Read To Me – The Lebanon City Police Department held Police Read to Me at 11 a.m. Dec. 16, when an police officer read How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Lebanon Farmer’s Market. The Police Read to Me program happens every third Saturday at 11 a.m. at the market. An officer selects a book from the LPD library to read to children who attend.
East Hanover Township
Vehicle accident, driving on roadways laned for traffic – At approximately 2:59 p.m. Dec. 12, a crash occurred along SR 934 at Jonestown Road. A 2020 Honda Civic driven by a 21-year-old Palmyra man was traveling north on SR 934 and a 2011 Honda Pilot driven by a 45-year-old Palmyra man was traveling south when the Civic turned left onto Jonestown Road and struck the Pilot, which crashed into the guide rail on the south side of the road. The Civic spun and hit the guide rail on the north side of the road. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and sustained no injuries. Both vehicles were towed from the scene by Motter’s Towing. Police charged the 21-year-old with driving on roadways laned for traffic.
Vehicle accident, driving vehicle at safe speed – At 12:12 p.m. Dec. 11, a crash occurred on Allentown Boulevard, just west of Lincoln School Road, involving a 2019 Freightliner Truck driven by a 32-year-old Sacramento, California, man and a 2015 Freightliner Truck driven by a 65-year-old Leesport man. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and sustained no injuries. Police charged the Sacramento man with driving vehicle at safe speed.
Heidelberg Township
Vehicle accident – At 6:19 p.m. Nov. 23, a 2012 Jeep Liberty driven by a 46-year-old Womelsdorf man was traveling north on SR 501, south of Spring Haven Road, when it left its lane, hit an embankment, sideswiped a telephone pole and rolled into the south lane of SR 501. The Jeep sustained disabling damage. The Womelsdorf man was wearing a seatbelt, sustained injuries of unknown severity, and was transported via Schaefferstown EMS to the Lancaster General Hospital. CJ Wagner’s Towing assisted on the scene.
Jackson Township
Vehicle accident – At 5:28 p.m. Dec. 8, a crash occurred on South College Street at West Stoever Avenue involving a 2006 Toyota Corolla driven by a 22-year-old Myerstown man and a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica driven by a 29-year-old Myerstown woman. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and sustained no injuries.
Harassment – At 12:27 a.m. Dec. 5, police responded to the 400 block of Hilltop Road for a report of an assault. Officers spoke with two men, ages 36 and 35, outside their neighboring homes. The men reported that they were arguing over the property line and a physical altercation ensued. Both men were cited with NTCs for harassment and provided with Victims Rights Guides on the scene.
Jonestown Borough
Vehicle accident – At 3:37 a.m. Nov. 29, a crash occurred near the 100 block of South Lancaster Street when an unknown vehicle traveling south on South Lancaster Street struck a 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt that was legally parked and unoccupied on the right shoulder of the road, facing south. The unknown vehicle fled the scene of the crash.
Millcreek Township
Vehicle accident, obedience to traffic-control devices – At 4:58 p.m. Dec. 6, a crash occurred on East Main Street, east of Locust Street, involving a 2012 Volkswagen Beetle Super Beetle driven by a 16-year-old Newmanstown female and a 2016 Honda CRV driven by a 39-year-old Wernersville man. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts and sustained no injuries. Police charged the juvenile with obedience to traffic-control devices.
Myerstown Borough
Harassment – At approximately 1 a.m. Dec. 14, a 26-year-old Myerstown man and his roommates were involved in an argument on Albright Court when the arrestee threw a punch, striking a 19-year-old Myerstown man in the back of the head. Police charged the arrestee with harassment.
North Londonderry Township
Harassment – At 6:45 p.m. Dec. 4, police charged a 20-year-old Annville woman with summary harassment after customers and employees at Walmart, 100 N. Londonderry Square, reported she walked up to her 4-year-old son and loudly backhanded the right side of his face, then grabbed his arm and walked away.
Palmyra Borough
Drug possession – At approximately 9:21 a.m. Nov. 20, police responded to the 00 block of North Hetrick Avenue for a report of a subject living in a camper on the road and found marijuana and related paraphernalia inside the camper. On Nov. 27, a criminal complaint was filed with MDJ Garver’s office charging Tylor Yeagley, 30, with misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and misdemeanor possession of a small amount of marijuana (personal use).
Accidents involving damage to attended vehicle, duties at stop signs – At approximately 2:12 p.m. Nov. 18, police responded to East Cherry Street and South Forge Road for a report of a hit and run. Police determined that the driver of the fleeing vehicle, identified as Seth Reyes, 27, failed to yield to another vehicle within the intersection when facing the stop sign, failed to remain on the scene of the accident, and failed to report the accident to the police. On Nov. 27, a criminal complaint was filed with MDJ Garver’s office, charging Reyes with misdemeanor accidents involving damage to attended vehicle and summary duties at stop signs.
Retail theft – At approximately 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4, a regional crime investigator for Weis Markets, 901 E. Main St., contacted Palmyra Borough police to report a retail theft. Police allege that Christina Biggica, 55, stole merchandise worth $292.57 from the store on seven days. On Nov. 30, a criminal complaint was filed with MDJ Garver’s office, charging Biggica with misdemeanor retail theft.
Simple assault, harassment – At approximately 8:17 p.m. Nov. 29, police responded to the 100 block of South Chestnut Street for a domestic dispute. Police determined that Melissa Hartsough, 44, tackled a woman to the ground and placed her hands around the woman’s neck, causing injuries to her neck, hands, and left eye. Hartsough was taken into custody and transported to LCCB to await arraignment. Police charged Hartsough with misdemeanor simple assault (domestic violence-related) and summary harassment.
Simple assault, harassment – At approximately 8:47 p.m. Dec. 7, police responded to the 200 block of East Oak Street for an active domestic dispute. Police determined that Barbara Cassatt, 50, assaulted a man, causing injuries to his chest, arms, and left hand. Cassatt was taken into custody and transported to LCCB to await arraignment. Police charged Cassatt with misdemeanor simple assault (domestic violence-related) and summary harassment.Â
Criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, harassment, reckless driving – At approximately 4:29 p.m. Oct. 6, police responded to the 200 block of West Cherry Street for a domestic dispute and charged Malinda Rivera, 47, with misdemeanor criminal mischief, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, summary harassment, and summary reckless driving. Charges were filed with MDJ Garver’s office on Nov. 1.
Simple assault, disorderly conduct, harassment, reckless driving – At approximately 4:29 p.m. Oct. 6, police responded to the 200 block of West Cherry Street for a domestic dispute and charged Lance Barbush, 46, with misdemeanor simple assault, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, summary harassment, and summary reckless driving. Charges were filed with MDJ Garver’s office on Nov. 1.
PFA violation – At approximately 3:27 a.m. Dec. 13, police responded to an apartment on the 00 block of North Harrison Street for a domestic dispute. Officers spoke with Brian Varvel, 51, along with another person on scene who had a PFA order against Varvel. The PFA order, issued by a judge in Perry County in May 2023, was verified. Varvel was taken into custody and transported to LCCB. Police charged Varvel with misdemeanor contempt for violation of PFA order.
No Shave November – Members of the Palmyra Borough Police Department participated in a No Shave November event again this year during the months of November and December. The event is aimed at raising awareness of men’s health and is also used as a fundraiser. Each officer donated $100 to participate in the event, with the money donated being matched by the Palmyra Borough Police Officers Association to raise a total of $1,800. The officers split the donation between the National Police Officers Memorial Fund and Concerns of Police Survivors, with $900 being donated to each in memory of Chief Bernard Dugan of the Annville Township Police Department.
South Annville Township
Vehicle accident, driving vehicle at safe speed – At 8:13 p.m. Nov. 26, a 2000 Jeep Cherokee driven by a 16-year-old Lebanon male, accompanied by a 15-year-old Lebanon male and a 16-year-old Annville male, was traveling north on South White Oak Street, just north of Fairview Drive, when the driver lost control and went off the right side of the road, struck an embankment and overturned. The driver was wearing a seatbelt and sustained a suspected minor injury but was not transported. The passengers were not wearing seatbelts but were assessed by EMS and sustained no injuries. Police charged the driver with driving vehicle at safe speed.
South Lebanon Township
Promotions – Please extend a warm welcome and congratulations to the department’s recently promoted sergeant and corporal. Sgt. Dave Troxell has been a police officer since 2002, joining the South Lebanon Township Police Department in 2013. He served as a RAD self-defense instructor and field training officer, and has held the rank of corporal since 2018. Cpl. Dominic Juliani has been a police officer since 2018 and with the South Lebanon Police Department since 2020. He is a member of the Lebanon County SWAT team and serves as the South Lebanon Township Police Department’s firearms, Taser, and defensive tactics instructor.
South Londonderry Township
Vehicle accident – At 8:16 a.m. Dec. 7, police responded to the 1400 block of Mount Wilson Road, where a gray Nissan Sentra driven by a 33-year-old Annville man had left the road and struck a tree. No one was injured. The Nissan was towed from the scene.
About the LebTown Blotter
We do not publish names for traffic accidents, summary offenses, or cases where we cannot verify that charges have been filed. Read more in our “Right to be Forgotten” policy.
