MAHANOY CITY - Mahanoy City Police have charged a New York man after he allegedly tampered with a fire hydrant earlier this month, causing damage and unauthorized use of borough property.
Corte Clever, 42, of Elmhurst, NY, was formally charged on August 27, 2025, following an investigation by borough police and code enforcement. Clever faces misdemeanor and summary charges, including injuring/tampering with fire apparatus or property and unauthorized use or opening of a fire hydrant.
Incident Details
According to an affidavit of probable cause filed by Cpl. Charles Kovaleski, the incident occurred on August 17, 2025, around 9:50 a.m. A call from Code Enforcement Officer Bill Killian alerted police to issues at a residence in the Liberty Hill area, where individuals had reportedly moved in without permits, started a yard fire, and accessed a nearby fire hydrant without authorization.
When officers arrived, they discovered visible damage to the hydrant, including metal shavings around the stem nut, rounding of the nut itself, and deep gouges in the 5-inch aluminum cap and connector.
At the scene, police spoke with a man identified as John M. Ludizaca Remache, who explained that a friend had opened the hydrant. Remache told officers they believed it was acceptable to do so, citing similar practices in New York, and that the hydrant was opened because the home’s water service had been shut off. The group allegedly used the hydrant water to bathe.
Later that morning, Remache brought Corte Clever to the station, where he acted as an interpreter. During questioning, Clever admitted he was the one who opened the hydrant, reiterating that he thought it was permissible.
Clever was charged with:
- Injure/Tamper Fire Apparatus or Property (Misdemeanor 3)
- Unauthorized Use or Open Fire Hydrant (Summary offense)