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Squatters take advantage of unlocked doors

Tamaqua Police were kept quite busy Wednesday morning, dealing with a mental health issue and two squatters.

The first call, around 8 a.m., was to Hunter Street, where they dealt with a man having a bit of a breakdown. The situation was resolved quickly and crisis intervention representatives took were called to help the individual.Twenty minutes later, at 8:20 a.m., police received a call from a woman on East Elm Street. She told officers she came downstairs to find an unknown man sleeping on her couch. The man fled when she called police, but was tracked through a wooded area and found on coal company property. He surrendered once he realized he was surrounded and was identified as Joseph Franz, 29, of Lehighton.A records check found Frantz was wanted for a state parole violation. There was also a felony warrant for his arrest in connection with a 2014 incident in Tamaqua, where he was charged with flight to avoid apprehension, possession of drug paraphernalia, providing false identification to law enforcement, disorderly conduct, driving without a license, speeding and careless driving.He was arraigned on those charges before District Judge Stephen Bayer, who set bail at $10,000.Frantz was transported to the Schuylkill County Prison in Pottsville to await transfer to a state facility.Tamaqua police were assisted in the search by officers from Rush, Schuylkill and West Penn Townships.Before everyone could return to their respective police stations to complete paperwork, the owner of the apartment building at 101 Pine St., Tamaqua, called 911 to report finding an unknown man in the basement/laundry area. He was identified as Erik M. Klemow, 33, of 408 E. Oak St., Frackville.He was arrested without incident and charged with felony criminal trespass. Arraigned before District Judge Bayer, Klemow said he was in Tamaqua because his car had broken down on Monday and a friend, Doug, offered to help get it fixed and gave him a place to stay Monday night. When he woke up Tuesday, his cash and cellphone were missing.Another friend, Chappy, told him he could stay at his aunt's place at 101 Pine St., so he just entered the building when he found the door unlocked, just "trying to stay warm and get some rest," he told the judge.Bail was set at $10,000, 10 percent.Tamaqua Police Chief Rick Weaver reminds residents to lock their doors."Both of these squatters took advantage of unlocked doors. Remember to keep your homes and vehicles locked."

Joseph Franz, 29, with a last known address in Lehighton, was found sleeping in a Tamaqua woman's home on Wednesday morning. Tamaqua Police Cpl. Henry Woods and off duty patrolman Jeremy Sborz accompanied him to a hearing before District Judge Stephen Bayer, who sent Franz to the Schuylkill County Prison in Pottsville in lieu of $10,000 straight bail. KATHY KUNKEL/TIMES NEWS