Police investigating fraud complaint

involving $2,000 scam

LEWISTOWN — The Lewistown Police Department is investigating a fraud complaint from an unidentified Lewistown resident who was scammed out of $2,000 at 2:11 p.m. on Aug. 8, according to a release issued on Friday. The resident received a request from a friend to apply for a “block grant” that would be used to improve the resident’s neighborhood. The report said the resident applied for the grant through Facebook and won a $60,000 grant. The resident was asked to buy $2,000 in PlayStation gift cards, the report said, then provided the subject they were communicating with codes to the cards. Officers confirmed the gift card balances were removed by the time the resident called the police, the report said.

Lewistown woman cited for

failing to secure her dog

LEWISTOWN — A 58-year-old Lewistown woman was cited by Lewistown Police Department officers for failing to secure her dog after her pitbull was found running loose on the 100 block of West Fourth Street in Lewistown at 5:27 p.m. on Aug. 8, according to a release issued on Friday. Monique Crawford’s dog chased a resident up onto a porch and was attempting to bite the resident, the report said, then charged at the officer in a very aggressive manner when police arrived on scene. The officer deployed pepper spray which caused the dog to retreat, the report said, and officers contacted Crawford, who was inside when the dog was running loose. A referral was also made with the state dog warden, the report said.

Police investigate hit and run

accident on West Fifth Street

LEWISTOWN — Lewistown Police Department officers are investigating a hit-and-run accident on the 400 block of West Fifth Street in Lewistown that took place at 3:05 p.m. on Aug. 10, according to a release issued on Friday. The report said a black Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling eastbound when it struck the driver side mirror of a legally parked vehicle. The driver of the pickup stopped momentarily then fled the area, the report said. Residents in the area heard and saw the incident, the report said, and they indicated the vehicle had a Pennsylvania license plate starting with either ZTG or ZTE. Officers obtained a surveillance photo of the suspect vehicle, the report said, and the vehicle had tinted windows.

Oliver Township man arrested

for active warrants

LEWISTOWN — Brian K. Esh Jr., 38, of Oliver Township, was arrested for three active warrants after Lewistown Police Department officers observed him walking along East Walnut Street in Lewistown at 10:42 p.m. on Aug. 10, according to a release issued on Friday. One of Esh’s warrants was a bench warrant relating to a possession with intent to distribute arrest from Pennsylvania State Police at Hollidaysburg, the report said. When officers approached Esh, he fled with officers in pursuit, the report said, but he was eventually caught and found to possess methamphetamine. Esh will be charged with flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest and possession of controlled substances, the report said.

Lewistown man arrested on warrant, charged with possession

LEWISTOWN — A 44-year-old Lewistown man was arrested by Lewistown Police Department officers at 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 11 for an active warrant issued by the Mifflin County Prothonotary for failure to appear at a Protection From Abuse contempt hearing, according to a release issued on Friday. Kevin F. Echard was seen on the 100 block of North Juniata Street, the report said, and he was taken into custody without incident. An inventory search of his vehicle revealed a meth pipe as well as methamphetamine and several other pieces of drug paraphernalia inside the vehicle, the report said, and Echard will be charged with drug and drug paraphernalia possession.