Mahoning Township Police Chief Kenneth J. Barnes has released the following reports:

Traffic accident with injury investigation: On Dec. 1 at about 3:44 p.m., police were dispatched to Two Kings Pizza on Rt. 902 for a report of an injured woman bleeding from the head. Upon arrival police learned that Teresa Trudich, 61, of West Ruddle Street Coaldale, had been traveling south on Rt. 902 (Mill Road). About one-half mile north of Two Kings Pizza, she heard a loud pop and her driver's side window shattered. It was determined via physical evidence that a deer had struck the side of her car. The deer was not located. Trudich was treated by EMS at the scene.Retail theft: On Dec. 1 at about 7:15 p.m., police were dispatched to the Wal-Mart Supercenter for a report that loss prevention agents had a male in custody for retail theft. Upon arrival the investigating officer took one Robert Hosier, Jr., 28, of West White Street, Summit Hill, into custody. The agents observed him in the shoe department taking off his shoes, putting new shoes on and placing his old shoes on the shelf and attempted to exit the store. Value of the merchandise was $25. Hosier has been charged with retail theft via a nontraffic citation.Retail theft: On Dec. 4 at 2:01 p.m., police were dispatched to the Wal-Mart Supercenter for a report of loss prevention agents having a male in custody for retail theft. Upon arrival the investigating officer took one Douglas Gasalberti, 57, of the 300 block of High Crest Drive, West Milford, New Jersey, into custody for retail theft. Loss prevention agents had observed Gasalberti swap price tags. He took (7) items (caps) and removed the original price tags. He then took price tags from toddler/child caps and placed them into an adult cap. The toddler/child caps were offered at a lower price. Gasalberti then proceeded to the register where he paid the lower price for the items and thereby defrauding the store of full retail value. Offense value is $48.79. Gasalberti was charged with retail theft via a nontraffic citation.Traffic accident investigation: On Dec. 4 at 2:16 p.m., police were dispatched to a traffic accident at the intersection of Rt. 902 (Mahoning Drive East) and Grist Mill Road. LeRoy Liebenguth, 79, of the 300 block of Fredericks Grove Road Lehighton, was driving a 1997 Ford. He had stopped at the stop sign on Grist Mill Road at Rt. 902 to make a left turn onto Rt. 902. He observed one vehicle heading eastbound go past. He then proceeded out onto Rt. 902 but did not see a 1998 Ford heading eastbound driven by a Kevin Heilman, 23, of Laurel Road Lehighton. Impact occurred between the two vehicles, spinning the Leibenguth clockwise and then striking a utility pole. No one was injured in the crash. Both vehicles had to be towed. The utility pole was intact after the impact. The roadway was shut down until both vehicles were removed. Police were assisted at the scene by the Mahoning Valley fire department and Mahoning Valley fire police.Traffic accident investigation - suspected DUI related: On Dec. 5 at 6:17 p.m., police were dispatched to a traffic accident on Rt. 443 (Blakeslee Blvd. East Drive) in the area of the farmers market. It was a two vehicle crash, both vehicles sustained front end damage disabling damage and had to be towed. Drivers involved were a James Jaeger, 34, of the 200 block of Church Road Jim Thorpe, and was driving a 2005 Nissan Exterra and a Valerie Stankavage, 40, of Pinebrook Drive Hyde Park, New York, and was driving a 2005 Nissan Altima. An independent witness told the investigating officer that the Jaeger vehicle had been swerving in and out of opposing traffic heading West on Rt. 443 from the Carbon Plaza Mall. The Jaeger vehicle then swerved into oncoming traffic and struck the Stankavage vehicle that was heading eastbound. The investigating officer had reasonable suspicion to suspect that Jaeger had been consuming alcoholic beverages. Jaeger failed numerous filed sobriety tests and was arrested. He was taken to Gnaden Huetten Hospital, Lehighton, per the implied consent law. Jaeger was given several opportunities to comply and refused to do so. PennDOT will be notified of the refusal. Jaeger will be charged via criminal complaint summons with DUI and related offenses. Police were assisted at the scene by the Mahoning Valley fire department.Theft: On Dec. 6 at about 5 p.m., a 63-year-old female resident of N. Harrity Road Palmerton, reported to police that she was shopping at the Wal-Mart Supercenter between 3:15 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. She was in the electronics section looking at a laptop computer. She reported that a young boy between the ages of 11 and 13 brushed up against her. The boy was accompanied by a female representing that she was the boy's mother. When the victim went to the register to pay for purchased items, she discovered that items were missing from her purse, including but not limited to personal identification and about. $400 in cash. The matter is under investigation and anyone having information or witnessing the event is asked to call Mahoning Township Police Department at (570) 386-2241.