Cops charge Catawissa man with meth making

CATAWISSA - Police officers found evidence of a meth lab in a Main Street home here after looking through garbage a man had placed on public property, they say. On Tuesday night, officers saw Todd James McCarthy, 34, 407 E. Main St., setting garbage bags outside his house on the sidewalk, according to arrest papers. They had heard from informants that McCarthy had been cooking methamphetamine, so later that night they returned to his property and picked up four bags.

Girl struck by two cars after running into street, witnesses say

BERWICK -- A 15-year-old girl came within inches of having her head run over by a car after she ran out into traffic and then pinballed off two cars on Front Street Wednesday afternoon, witnesses said. She was taken to Geisinger Medical Center by helicopter after the 4 p.m. crash. near Front Street's intersection with Orange Street, The girl was standing at the corner of Front and Ida streets near the Sunoco gas station, when she and a male friend ran out into traffic, witnesses said.

Meth lab busted, two in custody, police say

BERWICK -- Police have two men in custody and are looking for a third after officers discovered an apparent meth lab at 137 Summerhill Ave. Homeowner Brian McLellan, 44, and Stanley Lunger, 37, are being held, according to the search warrant. Police have not yet charged the pair. Officers arrested the two when they found meth precursors while looking for someone else wanted for meth making: Jeremy Broyan. There's a felony arrest warrant out for Broyan. Officers say their find was not a planned raid on the home.

The PE Sneak Peek: Aug. 12

Here's a look at the stories that are keeping our reporters busy Monday: * Demolition of a local landmark begins. We have the pictures. * A woman bilked her great-aunt of $15,000 -- and now owes $100,000 in fines, says the judge. * An ex-cop charged in a beating blames the other guy, but takes a plea deal anyway. Have a look at our online report for more. * Police suspect drunken driving in a Monday-morning crash on a winding road.

Ex-cop pleads guilty to road-rage assault

DANVILLE -- A ex-cop pleaded guilty Monday to beating and kicking another man outside a store after a reported road rage incident April 8. But Robert Weisman still says it was the other man, not he, who provoked the fight. "I'm sorry the guy got injured, but he was the aggressor," said Weisman, 37. Weisman worked as a police officer in Catawissa for six years before getting hurt during a traffic stop. He resigned in April 2011, most recently working in housecleaning at Geisinger Medical Center before losing that job.

Friends were drinking before fatal stabbing, witness says

BERWICK - The man who allegedly fatally stabbed his friend in a scuffle at an Almedia home last month stood with him, apologizing, until an ambulance showed up, a witness said at a hearing Thursday. Brett Woodside of 3928 Old Berwick Road and Brandon Burns had been hanging out at Woodside's house, drinking and socializing with friends on July 20, said Jessica Torres, a friend who came to Woodside's house that afternoon. Over the course of the afternoon and evening, as Burns drank more, "he started getting very belligerent," Torres said.

Police chief charged in abuse case

MILLVILLE -- State Police and the Attorney General's office filed criminal charges against longtime lawman Ted Stout Thursday over reported physical abuse by his former girlfriend and subordinate on the Millville force. Stout, 49, is accused of striking Tori Harrison, 35, on July 14 after the two returned home from the Paddock bar in Bloomsburg, where they had gotten into an argument and the now-suspended borough police chief was reportedly kicked out after grabbing Harrison.

Woman embezzled $158G from dying friend; later sold meth to undercover agent

BLOOMSBURG -- A woman admitted draining nearly $158,000 of her elderly friend's assets as the friend spent her final days in a nursing home. But that wasn't all Adele Yodzis Crouse, 49, had to answer for in court this week. She also confessed to dealing methamphetamine, including a sale to an undercover state narcotics agent in June 2011. She could face seven years behind bars.

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