Tamaqua police have charged Lester Willis Die- trich, 47, of West Spruce Street, Tamaqua, with the theft of equipment from J.D. Eckman Construction, the contractor for the Wabash Bridge replacement project on West Broad Street.

On Aug. 18, borough police were contacted by state police, who had been called to Sewer Treatment Plant Road, Walker Township. The trooper recovered a Jumping Jack tamper, which was strapped to a hand truck, at the entrance to a trail in the area. A man who had been with the tamper ran into the woods.

A witness was able to identify the fleeing man as Dietrich.

Officers went to his home where he initially denied any knowledge of the tamper and hand truck, stating he was at home at the time of the reported incident.

He was read his Miranda Rights before being taken to the police station for further questioning. He later admitted taking the tamper and hiding it in the shrubbery.

The value of the tool and hand truck was estimated at $2,100.

Dietrich was arraigned before District Judge Stephen Bayer, of Tamaqua, on charges of theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property. Bail was set at $20,000 percentage. Unable to post the required 10 percent, Dietrich was lodged in the Schuylkill County prison.