Black Forest Broadcasting

 

Coudersport man jailed after altercation with police….Kansas resident arrested for incident in Ulysses….Fugitive picked up in Potter County…St.Marys woman arrested for shoplifting….Austin woman scam victim….Senate committees consider guardianship issues….

POTTER COUNTY

A Coudersport man was jailed for disorderly conduct, obstructing administration of law and resisting arrest March 7 on East Beech Street in the borough. Troopers claim  29 year old Justin Holbrook was extremely uncooperative  with them and tried to pull away swinging his arms.

A charge of defiant criminal trespass has been filed against a 45 year old Kansas City Kansas resident for an incident March 15 on North Street in Ulysses. The suspect, whose name was also withheld, was intoxicated, punched a closet door numerous times, breaking it  and refused to leave the  residence even when being told by the 53 year old  woman to do so. When he was taken into custody, police found a Schedule 1 drug on his person. After being processed, the suspect was committed to the Potter County Jail. Schedule 1 drugs include heroin and marijuana.

State police at Coudersport arrested a fugitive from Wyoming County, PA March 10 for drug possession. Troopers allege  when they interviewed the suspect after stopping him on East Main Street in Harrison Township drugs were in plain view inside his 2011 Dodge Ram. His name was withheld.

Troopers also withheld the name of a driver of a 2013 Chrysler who was stopped on Route 44 in Sharon Township for traffic offenses at around 11:30 am. March 11. Authorities claim the driver exhibited signs of driving under the influence.

ELK COUNTY

A St. Marys woman was arrested for shoplifting at the St. Marys Walmart March 12. Authorities claim 41 year old Suzanne Friedl was  allegedly found to have taken numerous items from the store without paying for them.

A theft victimizing a 33 year old Ridgway woman is being investigated by state police at Ridgway. The victim told police she had given numerous gift cards and additional money through Facebook Messenger and Cash App for a security deposit for an apartment to rent on March 15.

A 34 year old Austin  woman was scammed out of $750  on Facebook Messenger Monday according to state police at Emporium. The investigation is continuing.

DUI charges are being filed against 40 year old Shawn Smith of St. Marys following a one-vehicle crash Sunday afternoon on the Bennetts Valley Highway in Jay Township. Troopers report Smith was driving a 2013 Dodge Caravan which failed to make a left hand curve, traveled off the right hand side of the road, hit two ditches and a tree before  stopping. Smith was not hurt but police say he was driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

CAMERON COUNTY

An Emporium woman is facing drug possession charges after being stopped on the old Portage Road in Portage Township on the afternoon of March 12. Lori Taylor,42, was taken into custody on Cameron County warrant and told police she had drug paraphernalia in the 1993 vehicle and asked troopers to remove it.

STATEWIDE

The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20), held a joint public hearing recently  with the Senate Aging and Youth Committee, chaired by Sen. Judy Ward (R-30), on strengthening guardianship laws and preventing elder abuse in Pennsylvania.

When an adult of any age is deemed incapacitated by a court, a guardian may be appointed to become responsible for making certain decisions on their behalf, including financial, medical and personal matters.

To strengthen the guardianship laws in Pennsylvania, Baker, along with Sen. Art Haywood (D-4), have recently introduced Senate Bill 506 to provide alternatives to appointed guardianships. The bill would require courts to automatically appoint counsel to individuals undergoing the guardianship process, consider other less restrictive alternatives before imposing a guardianship, and institute training and screening of professional guardians. This legislation originated from an unfortunate situation that occurred when Senator Haywood’s neighbor was taken advantage of by the unscrupulous practices of a professional guardian

During the hearing, testimony was given by professionals in the elder and disability law fields to provide input on the current flaws in Pennsylvania’s guardianship process. Panelists discussed how Pennsylvania is one of only eight states in the U.S. that does not automatically appoint counsel to represent alleged incapacitated persons, and highlighted the necessity for training and oversight of guardians to prevent waste, fraud and abuse.

Senate Bill 506 has received bipartisan approval and is supported by the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Disability Rights PA, and other advocacy groups because it helps prevent fraud, abuse, and exploitation, and increases representation.