Strangulation investigated in Juniata County

MIFFLIN — State Police at Lewistown responded to a domestic dispute on Watts Lane in Milford Township, Juniata County on Nov. 8. According to the official report, a nine-year-old female was the victim of a strangulation. The investigation is ongoing.

Call about previous blotter leads to Lancaster man’s arrest

LEWISTOWN — Lewistown Police Department officers received a call regarding a previous Lewistown Police Department release about an incident that occurred on Oct. 31, according to a release issued on Friday. The caller reported that Kenneth F. Byrd Jr., 64, of Lancaster, had provided a false name to officers during an investigation at Puff-N-Snuff, the report said, as he provided his deceased brother’s name. Officers compared a prior arrest photo of Byrd to the subject that officers interacted with and confirmed it was the same individual, the report said. Byrd was found to have warrants from Lancaster, Chester and Berks counties, the report said, and officers responded to an address on West Fourth Street in Lewistown where Byrd was taken into custody. Byrd was lodged in the Mifflin County Correctional Facility in Lewistown and will be returned to Lancaster County to answer to his charges, the report said.

Suspicious package reveals credit card scam

LEWISTOWN — Lewistown Police Department officers continue to investigate a case where a local elderly female had more than $2,000 in unauthorized credit card charges, according to a release issued on Friday. At 12:59 p.m. on Nov. 12, officers received a report of a suspicious package at Goin’ Postal, 129 S. Main St., Lewistown, as employees received a package from Best Buy for a gaming monitor, the report said, and the owner of the business recognized the recipient of the package as a local elderly female. The owner called the resident, who denied making the order and discovered that their credit card was compromised, the report said. Officers called a phone number associated with the account and a male with a foreign accent answered claiming to be the resident’s husband, the report said, and when officers confronted the subject, he hung up the phone. Officers had contact with Best Buy in an attempt to have the fraudulent purchase returned; however, Best Buy was not interested in receiving the item back even after the charges were cancelled, the report said.

State Police seeking information from the public

MILROY — Authorities are asking the public for information regarding a vehicle crash in Milroy on Thursday, Sept. 18. A vehicle traveling on Main Street toward Ryans Circle struck a mailbox at about 10:40 p.m. The driver fled the scene without reporting the crash. The vehicle appears on surveillance footage as a dark color sedan or coupe that exited the Main Street Bar parking lot. The vehicle is suspected to have sustained front end damage as a result of the crash. Anyone with information should contact the Pennsylvania State Police at Lewistown at (717) 320-1010.

Hot spots not returned

MIFFLINTOWN — According to reports received from the Juniata County Library, on two different occasions, individuals rented a hot spot valued at $50 and failed to return it.

The first incident took place on Sept. 8 around 8 a.m. The second incident took place on Oct. 17 around 8 a.m.

Lewistown business falls victim to $4K Bitcoin scam

LEWISTOWN — A business on East Market Street in Lewistown, which was not identified by the Lewistown Police Department, reported that an employee received a phone call from someone claiming to be a corporate member at 11:04 p.m. on Nov. 12, according to a release issued on Friday. The subject knew supervisors’ names and reported needing the employee to send cash via Bitcoin for a delivery that was to occur that night, the report said, and the delivery would not be made without the payment. The employee went to a kiosk on Walnut Street and sent over $4,000 taken from cash registers which was sent via Bitcoin, the report said, and the subject then asked for additional funds to be sent by CashApp at which point the employee realized this was a scam and the incident was reported to the police.

Clearfield man charged with DUI

MIFFLINTOWN — On Thursday, Oct. 16 just after 6 p.m., State Police at Lewistown responded to a disabled motorist along Arch rock Road, Fermanagh Township, Juniata County. The report states that once on scene, troopers determined Shawn Miller, 53, of Clearfield, had operated a 2001 BMW while under the influence. The investigation is ongoing.