Whitehall Borough Police Briefs (Feb. 22-27)

The Baldwin-Whitehall Patch spoke with  Chief Donald R. Dolfi on Monday, Feb. 28, to gather the 's police briefs for the time period of Feb. 22-27.

Dolfi reported four incidents for that time period.

A resident of the 1300 block of Varner Road walked into the Whitehall Police Department on Feb. 22 at approximately 4:09 p.m. and reported that he was a victim of fraud.

The resident said that he discovered that someone had signed up for unemployment compensation under his name. Police investigated with the unemployment office, arrested Matthew Palombia, 33 years old and residing at 1315 Varner, and charged him with identity theft and access-device fraud (for withdrawing approximately $2,700 in illegal funds from an ATM).

Another resident, this one from the 2900 block of Provost Road, came into the Whitehall Police Department on Feb. 23 at approximately 6:10 p.m. to report another potential case of fraud and identity theft.

The alleged victim said that someone had accessed her PayPal account and credit-card information and used them to pay for shipping costs to various foreign countries. The shipping costs were believed to be in the range of $150-200, which the U.S. Postal Service reimbursed her for. The postal service also took over the investigation.

On Feb. 25 at approximately 10:28 a.m., Whitehall Police responded to a call that a woman had pulled a vehicle containing an unstable male passenger over into the parking lot of the on Route 51.

Police reported that the man, who is a 20-year-old military veteran, was not acting stable or rational and that the woman had pulled into Benson Lincoln Mercury where somebody that she knew was working.

"She went there probably as a safe haven," Dolfi said.

Officers said that the man seemed especially depressed and needed medical and/or psychiatric attention. Because no damage had been done by that man and because he is not being charged with a crime, Dolfi preferred not to reveal his name.

The man was picked up at Benson Lincoln Mercury by the  a short while later.

"The girl was faced with a situation, she pulled into the place and the officers reacted," Dolfi said. "Everybody did their job without anybody getting hurt.

"He needed help, and we got him help. That's as much of our job [as anything]. Maybe he can get the help he needs, and things can turn around and his life will flourish."

On Feb. 26 at approximately 4:03 p.m., Whitehall Police responded to a call from on Route 51 that a pants-less male with untied tennis shoes, later identified as Bruce Edward Kelly, 46 years old and living at 7941 Southgate Blvd. in North Lauderdale, Fla., had broken a window at the tires store and was running around the property erratically, screaming incomprehensible things and profanities at passing motorists.

When Whitehall Police came to the scene, officers there reported more of the same. Kelly was ordered by police to get to the ground on multiple occasions, but he continually refused.

Kelly had pants in his possession, but he had apparently taken them off before he allegedly broke the window.

As Kelly approached offers and again ignored orders to get to the ground, Whitehall Police used a stun gun to take him down. He was then handcuffed.

Dolfi said that Kelly informed officers that he was being driven by a friend from Uniontown to Pittsburgh International Airport when the driver forced him out of the car.

Kelly has been charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.

Kelly was carrying a bottle containing an unidentified liquid when police reported to the tires store. An analysis is being done on that liquid to determine exactly what it is. Pending test results, Kelly may be charged with possession of a controlled substance as well.