Luzerne County

DRUMS, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say a woman stole over $11,000 from a man by writing herself checks and forging his signature.

Police say Kimberlie Tayoun, 34, wrote and cashed 35 checks that she forged from a victim in Drums.

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According to the police, the victim knew about Tayoun writing the checks and gave her time to repay the money, but never did, which led the victim to go to the police on January 7.

NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Effective immediately, the Broadway Street Bridge that connects Nanticoke to West Nanticoke is shut down.

According to Luzerne County Manager Romilda Crocamo, a recent inspection uncovered "advanced deterioration of load-carrying members" on the bridge.

U.S. Secret Service nabs SNAP benefits skimming suspect

Crocamo states that the county is working with PennDOT to implement the closure, with more information to come at a later time.

There has been no indication as to how long the bridge will remain closed.

EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police in Luzerne County are keeping a close eye on a rash of car and van break-ins the last few weeks, the thieves taking valuable equipment from inside.

The man who lives in a home on Meyers Street was robbed of more than 50 tools.

He lost thousands of dollars in equipment out of his work van that was parked right here the night it happened. He says it's a big loss while working on a big project.

"This is like a screwdriver kit with different heads for it," said victim Bryan Denny.

EXETER, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Authorities say an investigation is underway Wednesday after a death in Exeter.

Wyoming Area Regional Police Chief Michael Turner told 28/22 News authorities were on the scene in the Mount Lookout Trailer Park Wednesday night.

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Chief Turner explained police are investigating the death of a 48-year-old man at a home in the trailer park.

Police say they don't believe there was any foul play and the investigation is ongoing.

EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU) — A warning from law enforcement regarding a text scam that 28/22 News has been tracking. It involves text messages that are supposedly sent by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission.

Those who receive them are told they owe overdue tolls and face serious legal penalties if they don't immediately pay up.

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials tell the I-Team the texts are becoming more threatening and the number of those texts being sent to Pennsylvanians is also increasing in a bigtime way. They are urging people not to fall for the scam.

HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say they have charged a man with impersonating an officer to trick a woman about a no trespassing sign.

The Hazleton City Police Department charged Jose Santos, of Sugarloaf, for an incident in January where they say he used a police badge on a woman living in the area of North Pine Street.

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Police said Santos pretended to be an officer and told the woman he could arrest her for having a no trespassing sign on her property.

HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Two men have been arrested after a drug task force shut down a large-scale fentanyl distribution in Luzerne County, police say.

According to the Hazleton City Police Department, on February 27, multiple detectives executed two search warrants in the 100 block of West 1st Street in Hazleton and the 300 block of 36th Street in Hazle Township.

Police stated two men, 47-year-old Miguel Carrasquillo Apolinaris and 53-year-old Luis Mercado Alicea were arrested and identified as key players of this drug trafficking organization.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police are searching for the suspect after an armed robbery in Wilkes-Barre Monday night.

On Monday, March 17, at about 10:45 p.m. the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department was called to a Hazle Street business for a reported robbery.

The victim told police the suspect, described to be standing at six feet one inch, entered the business and approached the counter while showing a firearm.

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WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Art therapy can be a valuable and therapeutic way to process and overcome different traumas. That's why a local non-profit offers art therapy classes to human trafficking survivors.

The founder of TWIGS Restoration Ministry takes her own story of survival to guide others through their healing journeys.

"I love doing art with different people just to see and prove to them that they can create art," Founder and CEO of TWIGS Restoration Ministry Sarah Issac-Samuel said.

HANOVER TOWNSHIP, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A popular spot for walking dogs and running is starting to look like a dump. Locals say illegal dumping is becoming a growing problem in the area.

Residents in the area of Robinson Circle in the Hanover Industrial Park in Luzerne County say it's a spot where many walk their dogs or enjoy time outside, but now it's plagued with garbage.

"I typically bring my three dogs over to Robinson Circle just to take them on like nightly walks," Jonathan Casey from Warrior Run explained.