According to Police Chief Richard Wojciechowsky, on Monday, March 2, 2020 around 11:45am, Pottsville Bureau of Police Det. Joseph Welsh and Det. Joseph Krammes were in the area of the 200 block of North George Street conducting a follow up investigation in reference to a felony offense case.
Det. Krammes identified a suspect vehicle that had been involved in the commission of a felony fraud and contacted a local towing company to remove the vehicle.
As this was being accomplished the registered vehicle owner, Dashawn Coward, 21, of Pottsville exited a residence on the west side of the block and began to question why his vehicle was being towed.
Krammes began to reply to Coward and also informed that an arrest warrant was active for him. At that time police attempted to physically secure Coward and he ignored verbal commands and resisted arrest using physical force. As police were able to control Coward and secure him he made verbal threats to harm one of the officers.
During the incident, Thomas Nesbitt Jr., 50, of Pottsville, and a 17 year-old female from Orwigsburg, became involved in an attempt to remove possible evidence from the scene and in doing so actively interfered in the official actions of the law enforcement officers. Nesbitt Jr and the female were also taken into custody at that time.
Det. Krammes completed a criminal complaint charging Coward with Resisting Arrest, Terroristic Threats, and a summary offense for misuse of a vehicle registration plate. Coward was arraigned by MDJ Reiley who set bail at $20,000.00 straight and Coward was placed into the custody of the Schuylkill County Prison.
Det. Welsh completed a criminal complaint charging Nesbitt Jr with Resisting Arrest, Obstructing Administration of law or other governmental function, and Persistent Disorderly Conduct. Nesbitt was also arraigned by MDJ Reiley who set his bail at $10,000.00, 10% and Nesbitt was placed into the custody of the Schuylkill County Prison.
Ptlm Jonathan Randolph completed a Juvenile Allegation with the Schuylkill County Court charging the 17 year-old female with Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function and Persistent Disorderly Conduct. Her case was referred to Juvenile Court for further action and she was released into the custody of her mother.
During the incident, Thomas Nesbitt Jr., 50, of Pottsville, and a 17 year-old female from Orwigsburg, became involved in an attempt to remove possible evidence from the scene and in doing so actively interfered in the official actions of the law enforcement officers. Nesbitt Jr and the female were also taken into custody at that time.
Det. Krammes completed a criminal complaint charging Coward with Resisting Arrest, Terroristic Threats, and a summary offense for misuse of a vehicle registration plate. Coward was arraigned by MDJ Reiley who set bail at $20,000.00 straight and Coward was placed into the custody of the Schuylkill County Prison.
Det. Welsh completed a criminal complaint charging Nesbitt Jr with Resisting Arrest, Obstructing Administration of law or other governmental function, and Persistent Disorderly Conduct. Nesbitt was also arraigned by MDJ Reiley who set his bail at $10,000.00, 10% and Nesbitt was placed into the custody of the Schuylkill County Prison.
Ptlm Jonathan Randolph completed a Juvenile Allegation with the Schuylkill County Court charging the 17 year-old female with Obstructing administration of law or other governmental function and Persistent Disorderly Conduct. Her case was referred to Juvenile Court for further action and she was released into the custody of her mother.