Pa. man sues cops, DA for being run over in cuffs

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A Pennsylvania man who contends he was run over by a drunken driver while he was in custody and lying handcuffed in a road has sued police and county prosecutors. Jerry Ray, 48, of Pittsburgh, was arrested on suspicion of public intoxication on Oct. 16, 2011. Ray was handcuffed and police laid him down in a traffic lane on a major downtown intersection, albeit about 2:15 a.m., according to a police report cited by his lawyer, Gary Ogg. "By their own report, he's in custody, they have him lying in the street, and he's run over by a drunk driver," Ogg said Tuesday.

Town picks a member of its force as chief

BLOOMSBURG -- The town has picked its next police chief, and it's a longtime veteran of the town force. After a statewide search, town council voted unanimously to name Sgt. Roger Van Loan as the next chief, at a salary of $75,000. Van Loan has served as acting chief since June, when Police Chief Leo Sokoloski retired to take a job at Elizabethtown College. We'll have more in Tuesday's edition.

Troubled relationship sparked cop's suicide, sister says

CLARKS SUMMIT -- A former Millville police officer spent her final hours with her on-again, off-again boyfriend and was parked outside his home when she killed herself, according to her family. Aydan Yaman, who also worked as a Columbia County sheriff's deputy, had been dating an EMT from Clarks Summit, said older sister, Aylin. The couple had a tumultuous relationship, according to Aylin, 30 "They were fighting all the time ... She was under a lot of stress," the sister said.

Bank scammers turn to texting, bank official says

BERWICK -- A scam text message sent out to area cell-phone owners Sunday appears to be aimed at stealing their bank account information, a local bank official said. If you received a message purportedly from First Keystone Community Bank warning of debit card issues, the best thing you could do is delete and ignore it, said Matt Prosseda, the bank president. No one should call the number listed in the fake text, he said. The message seemed like it was sent to "random people" with cell phone numbers starting 570-204 - a Bloomsburg exchange, he said.

CO scare brings fire crew to Berwick Theatre

BERWICK - High levels of carbon monoxide sickened a few of the people watching "Despicable Me 2" at the Berwick Theatre on Friday Night, the moviehouse owner said. Joe DiAugustine said Friday was the first time that the theater had turned on its heating system, and he and Fire Chief Bill Coolbaugh both said a blockage in the chimney or furnace flue could be to blame. The theater's Facebook page later said that an animal nest had been found in a furnace flue, and the "problem is being remediated and chimney swept."

Ping-pong ball starts Main Street fire, students say

BLOOMSBURG -- A mattress and box spring fire in the old Hotel Magee on Friday afternoon started when a man attempting to get a dent out of a beer pong ball with a lighter ignited it instead and dropped it, his roommate and fire officials said. When the men in the apartment tried to stomp on the ball to extinguish it, the ball rolled under a nearby bed, which started on fire, said Kenneth Gillis, a resident of the student housing at the hotel. The roommates attempted to move the mattress and box spring and then emptied a fire extinguisher on it, said Deputy Fire Chief Scott McBride.

Police: Man shot in Berwick

BERWICK -- A man was shot in the leg Wednesday night along LaSalle Street and police were still searching for the shooter. The incident happened just after 7 p.m. in front of 521 LaSalle St. where police were still collecting evidence late Wednesday. The unidentified victim was taken to Geisinger by ambulance soon after getting shot, said Berwick Police Chief Ken Strish.Read tomorrow's edition for more details.

Second fire at trailer sparks probe

BERWICK -- Two mysterious fires hit the same trailer overnight, and police and firefighters are investigating how they ignited. Fire Chief Bill Coolbaugh said electrical problems, kitchen accidents and the heating system have been ruled out as possible causes. The blazes destroyed the mobile home at 433 S. Arch St., where Lori Vargo, 53, lived with her two granddaughters, Ashley Young, 17, and Alyshia Young, 18. Investigators have also ruled out drug manufacturing, he said.

Embattled chief steps down: 'Everybody needs to move on'

MILLVILLE -- Ted Stout is retiring as Millville's police chief, saying it's "in the best interest of everyone." "Right, wrong or indifferent, I felt it was time to move on," said Stout, 49. Stout, accused of hitting former girlfriend and subordinate Tori Harrison, 35, said he's through working in law enforcement and will look for work in another field while continuing to live in his Millville home. With 24 years service with the Millville Police Department, Stout was less than a year away from qualifying for a full state-funded pension.

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