Unlucky Guy

On Saturday, Aug. 27, at approximately 9:46 p.m., Whitehall Borough police officers on patrol near Orchard Heights Park noticed a vehicle parked in an area of Orchard Heights where vehicles are not allowed. In addition, the park was closed since it was past dusk.

The officers observed one occupant in that vehicle and made contact with that person. After speaking with that person and observing the scene, the officers determined that there were other people in the park.

The officers reported finding a male and a female kissing in the park and informed all three people that they had to leave the park.

While obtaining information from the three people, the officers reported finding that the female possessed what could possibly be drug paraphernalia. Police seized the paraphernalia. No charges have yet been filed. An investigation is pending.

Violent Incident at Sisters of St. Francis

On Tuesday, Aug. 23, at approximately 10:59 a.m., Whitehall police officers were dispatched to the Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God campus on McRoberts Road for a report of a disturbance. The officers were advised of an altercation in an office there between a male and a female in which the male reportedly had grabbed the female by her neck and led her away from the campus.

The officers searched the immediate area, interviewed people and came up with a name and a possible location of the male in question. The officers obtained the man’s last known address in Baldwin Borough’s 200 block of Sunny Drive, and with assistance from the Baldwin Borough Police Department, were able to find the man.

Whitehall police arrested William Salerno, 37, of 200 Sunny Drive, and charged Salerno with simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. UPDATE: After completing anger management classes at the Domestic OutReach Center, Salerno's charges were dismissed.

The woman does not have serious injuries, Whitehall police Chief Donald R. Dolfi said.

Fire Extinguisher Not a Toy

On Aug. 23 at approximately 8:36 p.m., Whitehall police officers on patrol in the 1600 block of Parkline Drive in the Whitehall Place Apartments complex observed what they believed to be a cloud of smoke in the area and proceeded toward it. As the officers arrived at the location of the smoke, it quickly dissipated.

The officers observed two females walking away from the area. Upon speaking with the two females—both minors—the officers determined that one of them was playing with a fire extinguisher that they say she stole from 1650 Parkline.

The officers determined that the smoke that they saw was a powdery discharge from the extinguisher.

Police reunited the girls with their parents and charged one of them with theft by unlawful taking or disposition-moveable property.

Harassment and Simple Assault on Streets Run Road

On Wednesday, Aug. 24, at approximately 8:07 p.m., Whitehall police responded to the 300 block of Streets Run Road at the request of a woman reporting a disturbance there.

When the officers arrived at the scene, they reported that the woman who made the request was on a front porch crying and shaking. As the officers tried to determine if she needed medical assistance, they reported detecting bruises on her neck and on at least one arm. However, the officers reported no serious medical injuries.

After speaking with the woman and investigating the incident, the officers determined that a verbal argument between her and David Havaran, 36, of 366 Streets Run, had escalated into a physical altercation.

Police are charging Havaran with harassment and simple assault.

UPDATE: Both charges were withdrawn on Nov. 22.

Harassing Phone Calls at Caste Village Barber Shop

On Aug. 27 at approximately 11:05 a.m., a Whitehall police officer was dispatched to Manor Barber Shop in Caste Village in response to a harassment complaint.

An employee of Manor Barber Shop said that, for the past two weeks, she had been receiving harassing phone calls from the same person. The victim provided four different dates. She said that the calls were lewd and suggestive in nature and that she had no idea whom the caller could be.

Whitehall police have a person of interest in the case and have had discussions with that person (a male). No charges have yet been filed. An investigation is pending.