Luzerne County

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A death investigation is underway Tuesday after a body was found in an abandoned home.

Heavy police presence was seen Tuesday evening in Wilkes-Barre along the 100 block of Carlisle Street.

28/22 News had crews on scene and police officers told us that they were there for a death investigation.

Wilkes-Barre Police and Pennsylvania State Police lined the street as they headed their investigation at a home on Carlisle Street.

EDWARDSVILLE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Authorities announced on Facebook a puppy stolen on Tuesday in Edwardsville has been found by police.

Police were on the lookout for three suspects after they allegedly stole a puppy in Edwardsville.

Courtesy of the Edwardsville Police Department

The Edwardsville Police reported in a post on Facebook Tuesday they were looking for three people in the alleged theft of a Shetland Sheepdog puppy from Puppies and More in Edwardsville around 5:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

Training underway for new 911 dispatchers 

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Training is underway for the largest Luzerne County emergency services class to date.

It's welcome news after years of staffing shortages and the growing need for dispatchers.

The merger between the county's 911 center and Emergency Management Agency is off to a promising start.

Class is in session for more than a dozen new members of the Luzerne County EMS team. They're completing weeks of paid training followed by floor rotations to become 911 dispatchers.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Mayor George C. Brown announced that the City of Wilkes-Barre will enact a CODE BLUE due to severe cold temperatures for the evening of Wednesday, February 28, and Thursday, February 29.

The CODE BLUE Emergency Shelter Program is administered by Keystone Mission. The Code Blue Emergency Shelter is located at the Keystone Mission Innovation Center, 90 East Union Street, Wilkes-Barre.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — There was some work, but mostly play Tuesday in Wilkes-Barre.

Plenty of people were enjoying the warm weather while on the job and at a local park. Lots of people were taking advantage of the temperature.

The Wilkes-Barre City Department of Public Works (DPW) pothole crew spent their sunny day working on the road on South Main Street.

It's a job they say gets a little easier with warmer weather.

HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police have charged a man after they say he forcibly raped two children in Luzerne County.

According to the Hazleton City Police Department, back in May of 2023 officers received a report of two juveniles being sexually assaulted.

Mother charged with abandoning child at hair salon

After an investigation was conducted, detectives say they identified the suspect as Giordano Lara-Baez of Hazleton and the alleged abuse had occurred over seven years.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police arrested two after selling methamphetamine mixed with fentanyl to a confidential informant (CI).

According to police, 38-year-old Rebecca Shiner and Theodore Goetze have been arrested after they sold methamphetamine mixed with fentanyl to a CI.

Search for missing woman in Luzerne County

Police say between February 1 and February 10 officials began an investigation on Shiner and Goeteze. During that investigation, a CI was told to obtain a specific amount of methamphetamine in exchange for cash.

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A woman is being accused of spitting and kicking an officer multiple times while being arrested.

According to the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, officers responded to a domestic disturbance in the 120 block of Academy Street around 11:00 p.m. Sunday.

Police say once on the scene officers tried to break up an argument between a man and Mariah Figueroa Torres, 22, of Wilkes-Barre. Torres was reported to have spit at an officer, and kicked the officer multiple times in the legs, as stated in the affidavit.

HUNTINGTON TWP., LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — State police say they are searching for a missing woman out of Luzerne County Tuesday.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, troopers are searching for Linda Carmella Shaw of Shickshinny. Police say Shaw is considered missing and endangered and was last seen Monday near the Susquehanna River in Salem Township.

Mother charged with abandoning child at hair salon

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A mother is being charged after police say she abandoned her child at a salon and was not located until the following day.

According to the Wilkes-Barre City Police Department, on Sunday around 9:00 p.m., officers were called to the 300 block of South Maon Street for a child left at a hair salon.