County Men Arrested For Theft

Two Cameron County residents are facing criminal charges after an early morning incident last Friday at the UniMart in Emporium.

Gary L. Pashong, 24, of Emporium, and 18-year-old Eric W. Rhinebolt of Driftwood are accused of entering the store at about 4:30. After refusing to leave, they allegedly committed acts of vandalism and departed with about $30 worth of stolen items. They're facing charges of retail theft, criminal trespass, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Investigators from U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration were in Bradford this week to investigate an industrial accident that claimed the lives of two McKean County men. The victims were Homer Jolly, 49, of Bradford and Michael Coder, 37, of Lewis Run.

Police report the two were unloading scrap from a dump truck at Goodman Brothers Services when the hydraulic lift bucket failed to operate. The two were investigating the problem when the bucket suddenly dislodged, falling and striking both men in the head.

The men were pronounced dead by McKean County Coroner Mike Cahill shortly after their arrival at Bradford Regional Medical Center. James Watson, a safety and health compliance officer, is heading the OSHA investigation.

A Coudersport man was arrested this week for a burglary at Erway's Market, located along Rt. 6 in west Coudersport. Edward Mulzet, 40, is accused of smashing a glass door late Friday night to enter the business and remove money and a handgun. Pa. State Police and Coudersport Borough Police investigated. They said Mulzet was formerly employed by the business.

Two suspects have been nabbed charges of theft, receiving stolen property, and possessing an instrument of crime. Norman McKinney, 42 of Cascade, Md., and 19-year-old Chad Smith of Bolivar, N. Y., are accused of removing 600 feet of copper wire from the west side of the Norfolk-Southern Railroad tracks at the Larabee Junction in Eldred Township on Monday.

Meanwhile, state police from Ridgway are investigating the theft of about $7,000 worth of copper wire from a location along the railroad tracks in Jones Township. About 2,350 feet of wire was cut and removed from the Rassellas Road railroad crossing near Brechtel Road sometime late last week.

Sometime over the past weekend, thieves took $1,400 worth of construction equipment and tools belonging to Duffy Inc. of Smethport from a stone quarry located along Route 6, about three miles east of Port Allegany. State police from Kane are investigating.

A theft taking place sometime over the past week on Route 219 near Lantz Corners in Hamlin Township, McKean County, is being investigated by state police. Thieves stole two tents, six folding tables and a small lock from a storage building, causing $50 damage. The stolen property, owned Clair Kilmer of Kane and the Kinzua Bridge Foundation, is valued at $700.

Somebody made off with a large metal school bell from the former Tom Mix Museum on Floyd's Road in Driftwood. Owner Raymond Flaugh told state police the bell was taken sometime last Tuesday or Wednesday.

State police from Emporium are also investigating the theft of a digital camera valued at $400, as well as about $400 worth of quarters, from the Patrick Laird residence on Moore Hill Road sometime between Monday, July 17, and last Friday.

An Emporium man has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after being stopped by state police late Sunday night at the intersection of Rt. 120 and Sunny Lane. Police said 40-year-old Gene Lumley was stopped for a traffic violation and exhibited signs of intoxication.

Pennsylvania Crimestoppers is offering a cash reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of a man suspected of assaulting a young Clinton County girl on May 17. State Police report that the nineyear old girl was riding her bicycle near her home on Eighth Street in Renovo when the man struck her on the back of the head with a pipe or club. The suspect is believed to be a white male, about five-foot-11, with short brown hair, and medium build. He is likely between 25 and 35 years old. Anyone having information is asked to call Crimestoppers toll-free at 1-800472-8477.

A Kane woman was injured after her compact car was rammed from behind by a dump truck on Hacker Street (Rt. 321 in the borough. Kane Borough Police said Dora Gelatko, 50, was driving north when she stopped to make a left turn onto Bayard Street. The truck, driven by a 16-year-old St. Marys boy, failed to stop in time. Charges are pending against the dump truck driver, who was not injured.

St. Marys City Police report that someone attacked the drivethrough automatic teller machine at the National City Bank sometime early Saturday morning. The machine was heavily damaged but no cash was removed.

Three seasonal homes along Sackett Road in Elk County were burglarized last week. State police from Ridgway said several items were removed from each camp. Owners are George Morrison of New Castle, Ronald Pawloski of Cheswick and Steven Badger of New Castle.