POLICE BLOTTER
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Both drivers involved in a minor two-vehicle fender bender on West Fourth Street on April 3 were under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash, city police said.
Jennifer R. Houseknecht, 29, of 632 Seventh Ave. had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.22 when her sport-utility vehicle struck the rear of a pickup truck driven by Nicholas A. Muoio, 18, of Lebanon, N.J., at Fifth Avenue, Patrolman Sidney E. Gable said.
The officer said that not only did he detect “a heavy odor of alcohol on Houseknecht’s breath,” but that he also could “detect a moderate odor of alcoholic beverage” on Muoio.
Muoio had a blood-alcohol content level of 0.04, Gable said. Any driver under the age of 21 with a blood-alcohol content level of 0.02 or higher can face a charge of drunk driving.
Houseknecht and Muoio were charged with driving under the influence of intoxicants and have been sent summonses to appear before District Judge James G. Carn.
Two records cleared in separate cases
In separate cases handled this week before District Judge James G. Carn, the judge threw out all state police charges against one man while a woman’s record was cleared after the arresting officer decided to withdraw the criminal complaint he had filed against her.
Carn ruled there was not enough evidence to support charges of theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief against Keith D. Getz, 20, of 2060 Riverside Drive, South Williamsport.
Police allege that in early August they recovered stolen items from a city property in the 1000 block of Park Avenue, where Getz reportedly lived.
The stolen articles were taken in a burglary in mid-July from a home on Cold Water Town Road in Bastress Township, police said.
However, at Getz’s preliminary hearing, there was no testimony that Getz lived at the Park Avenue property.
In another case, Pennsylvania College of Technology police withdrew charges of theft and receiving stolen property against college student Stefanie Renee Engel, 19, of Ronks.
The charges were filed in early March when a stolen parking permit, belonging to another student, was found in her car while it was parked on campus, according to college police.
Woman accused of disorderly conduct
An intoxicated woman who allegedly became unruly faces charges following a disturbance outside her home, according to city police.
Michelle I. Hartman, 41, of 1408 St. James Place allegedly struck Cpl. Eric Delker in the chest about 2:45 a.m. on April 26,
The woman admitted that she had “consumed a six-pack of beer,” according to an affidavit filed by Delker.
Charged with resisting arrest, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and harassment, Hartman was sent a summons to appear before District Judge James G. Carn. The mischief charge stems from damage made to the officer’s uniform.
Police: Man gave beer to two underage girls
Nathaniel C. Aldinger, 22, of Laporte has been charged with furnishing alcohol to two underage girls, according to Pennsylvania College of Technology police.
Police allege Aldinger gave two packs of beer to an 18- and a 19-year-old, which officers seized in the 1000 block of Vine Avenue on April 8. He was sent a summons to appear before District Judge James G. Carn.
Knoxville man charged with fleeing police
ELKLAND – Andrew Scott Baker, 22, of Knoxville recently was charged with fleeing or attempting to elude a police officer, careless driving and driving above the speed limit in Elkland District Court.
On April 25, Baker was observed speeding in a silver Volkswagen in a 55-mph zone in Osceola Township, according to court documents. The chase continued over various back roads until police learned Baker’s address. Contacted there later, Baker said the reason for his fleeing was because he couldn’t afford any more citations.
A preliminary hearing has been set for June 12 before District Judge Brian Edgcomb.
