Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Schuylkill County Police Log for 01/25/2017



Schuylkill County Police Log for 01/25/2017

Inmates Charged After Altercation

According to Pottsville Police, on Saturday 01/21/2017,  around 12:30am, Pottsville Police were dispatched to the Schuylkill County Prison to investigate an assault.

The investigation showed that Victor Green, 24,  of Pottsville and Brian Heckler, 48,  of Minersville had been involved in an altercation inside their cell around 12:10am. 

The altercation reportedly started over the two inmates’ disagreement concerning a window. 

Both inmates began fighting inside their cell block and Green eventually knocked Heckler to the floor. Green then repeatedly kicked Heckler in the face and head area causing him to lose consciousness. 

A short time later corrections officers were alerted to the disturbance in the cell block and discovered Heckler and Green covered in blood. 

Both inmates were moved to a medical facility within the prison. 

Heckler suffered several facial fractures, a broken nose, several lacerations to the facial area, and heavy bruising on his face. Heckler was transported to a local medical facility for further medical treatment.

A criminal complaint was prepared by Pottsville Police charging Green with Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Endangering the Welfare of Another Person, and Harassment. 

Heckler is being charged with harassment. 

Both remain incarcerated in the Schuylkill County Prison.

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Man Wanted on Warrants Crashes Motorcycle During Chase

According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Schuylkill Haven, last Wednesday (01/18/2017) at approximately 9:15pm, a suspicious motorcycle was observed traveling on SR4011, Porter Twp., in the vicinity of the Joliet Fire Company. 

State Troopers began to follow the motorcycle, which began to travel in an erratic manner. At one point, the motorcycle was being driven in the oncoming lane of travel.  

The Trooper pulled alongside the motorcycle and ordered him to stop, at which time the operator fled at a high rate of speed.

Being mindful of the dangers of pursuing a motorcycle, especially at night and under less than ideal roadway conditions, our Trooper attempted to follow the vehicle at a safe distance and moderate speed while radioing ahead to another unit, who was also in the area, with the intention of attempting to stop, and if not successful, obtaining sufficient identifying information for further investigation.

Troopers temporarily lost sight of the motorcycle, but came upon it a short distance down the road, where the operator had apparently driven off of the roadway and either crashed or abandoned the motorcycle and began to flee into the woods on foot. 

Troopers pursued the individual on foot and eventually apprehended and subsequently identified him as Brandon Merwine, a known offender with several outstanding warrants. 

Merwine complained that he broke his arm when he crashed his bike and acted as if gravely injured. 

Merwine was subsequently transported to Lehigh Medical Center-South for evaluation. 

Following the evaluation (which revealed no injuries), Merwine was medically cleared and transported to the Schuylkill County Prison where he was committed on several warrants out of Schuylkill County. 

 Numerous charges for this incident are pending including Fleeing & Eluding, DUI, Act 64 violations, and a number of summary vehicle code violations.