• A 37-year-old Tamaqua man was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison on retail theft and false identification charges.

According to Tamaqua police, officers were called to the Fine Wine and Spirits store on Cedar Street at 6:30 p.m. April 20 for a report of a man who stole a bottle of Jack Daniels. Officers spoke to a clerk who showed them a photo of the alleged thief.

Later that evening, police were sent to the rear of 223 Center St. for a report of a man sleeping on a bench with a bottle of Jack Daniels. Officers recognized the man as the one from the photo.

Officers woke the man, who told them that his name was Mike Johnson. Police checked the name with Schuylkill County Communications Center but no records were found. The man continued to tell officers that his name was Mike Johnson.

Police said they took the individual into custody and learned that he worked at a local business. Officers contacted the business and described the man, and learned his name was Richard Brooks.

A search of Brooks’ criminal history found five prior retail thefts dating back to 2007.

He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley, who set bail at $5,000 straight. Brooks was unable to post bail and sent to jail.

• A Tamaqua woman was sent to the Schuylkill County Prison on simple assault and harassment charges stemming from an alleged 10:30 p.m. April 19 domestic incident in the borough.

According to Tamaqua police, officers were dispatched to a home on the 200 block of Cedar Street for a domestic incident in progress. The caller directed police to an apartment where the fight was occurring. Officers knocked on the door and a man who answered said a woman, Edna Melnick, 47, was “going crazy.”

The man was missing a clump of hair, which he said Melnick had pulled. Police said as they spoke to the man, they could hear Melnick screaming and banging against the door. Officers opened the door and Melnick began screaming at them, police reported. As they attempted to place her in handcuffs, she allegedly fought with them.

Officers transported Melnick to the station and spoke to the victim, who had scratches in his right bicep and a bald spot on his head. The victim said he and Melnick were having an argument when she attacked him. She hit him in the face with a plastic cup filled with coffee, twisted his arm, and used “karate moves” on him, he told police.

While at the station, police said the victim began to experience chest pains due to the incident. He was taken to St. Luke’s Miners Campus in Coaldale.

Melnick was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James Reiley, who set bail at $5,000 straight. She was unable to post bail and sent to prison.

• Tamaqua police charged Eric Schuetrumpf, Tamaqua, with simple assault and harassment following a domestic incident at 9:20 a.m. April 8.

Police were dispatched for a domestic in progress. The female victim, who left the residence, told police that Schuetrumpf slapped her in the face and held her down while covering her mouth. Police noticed injuries on her face and neck.

Officers located Schuetrumpf a short time later and took him into custody. He was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and is free on $10,000 unsecured bail.