A man has been charged after he was found half naked in a yard in Lebanon City on Dec. 27, prompting the homeowner to shoot a gun into the air to scare him off, city police said.
The suspect, Stephen Melnick, 47, of Lebanon, allegedly was in a back yard in a fetal position on Locust Street and walked around the side of the home to the front yard, where the homeowner, Michael Hummer, 30, saw Melnick mumbling incoherently and wearing only a T-shirt, police said.
Hummer had been awakened by loud thumping noises, had grabbed his handgun and had gone downstairs to investigate, police said.
Melnick allegedly walked toward Hummer, prompting Hummer to fire a shot into the air with his handgun to scare Melnick off, police said. Melnick allegedly ran east on Locust Street, but he was identified and located the next day, police said. Police had located clothing and a wallet in the back yard of Hummer’s home.
Melnick was charged with loitering and prowling at night, indecent exposure and disorderly conduct.
Police will not be charging Hummer.
Creeps steal copper wire
Goons stole about 150 pounds of scrap copper wire after entering a locked home on Fidler Court in Pine Grove Township on Dec. 18 or Dec. 19, state police at Schuylkill Haven said.
The victim is Richard Haynes.
Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 570-593-2000.
Salt truck breaks two telephone poles
The dump bed of a truck spreading salt caught power lines running across the road, causing two telephone poles to break, on Mount Zion Road in Bethel Township, Lebanon County, on Dec. 31, state police at Jonestown said.
The vehicle was driven by Donald McMullen, 45, of Bernville.
Three vehicles involved in accident
Vehicles driven by Wesley Wenger, 17, of Womelsdorf, Austin Kline, 17, of Schaefferstown, and Joann Griffith, 55, of Mohnton, were in an accident at Main Street and Route 419 in Schaefferstown on Jan. 2, state police at Jonestown said.
Griffith suffered a minor injury, and she was transported by ambulance to Good Samaritan Hospital.
Man steals laptop from home
A man allegedly stole a laptop from a home on West Main Street in Newmanstown on Jan. 2, state police at Jonestown said.
The suspect, Clayton Ressler, 24, of Newmanstown, was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, and receiving stolen property. He was transported to Lebanon County Central Booking.
The computer was returned to the victim, Lacey Bernhard, 22, state police said.
Vehicle strikes embankment, overturns
A vehicle driven by Erin Garcia, 25, of Kingston, went out of control on a downhill curve, struck an embankment and overturned on I-81 in Pine Grove Township on Jan. 2, state police at Jonestown said.
Troopers: Fugitive caught after accident
A man was determined to be a fugitive after he was involved in an accident in Union Township, Lebanon County, on Dec. 22, state police at Jonestown said.
The suspect, Felix Pinero-Baez, 60, of Lebanon, was wanted by the Lebanon County and Atlantic City, N.J., sheriff’s offices, state police said. He was charged as a fugitive from justice and taken to Lebanon County Central Booking.
Goons swipe bass mailbox
Goons swiped a green and white largemouth bass mailbox on North Mill Street in Swatara Township on Dec. 31 or Jan. 1, state police at Jonestown said.
The victim is Jeffrey Boltz, 47.
Anyone with information is asked to contact state police at 717-865-2194.
