Shenandoah Man Wanted for Starting
Brush Fires Taken into Custody

A man wanted for starting brush fires near Shenandoah last year was taken into custody late Tuesday.

In July 2022, DCNR, Foresters with the Weiser State Forest District and Special Investigator with Forest Fire Protection, issued a warrant for the arrest of John Banaszewski, 42, of Shenandoah.

Banaszewski was wanted on 18 felony arson counts, as well as risking catastrophe, and maliciously setting/causing fire to forest, for allegedly starting several fires in West Mahanoy Township on May 12th, 2022, around 8:00pm.

On Tuesday, around 9:30pm, Shenandoah Police observed Banaszewski near the intersection of Lloyd and Main Streets in the borough and took him into custody.

Banaszewski was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David Plachko and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail.

Banaszewski is currently scheduled to appear before Judge Plachko on February 28th, 2023, for a preliminary hearing.