Mahanoy City Man Locked Up in Schuylkill County Prison for Crime Spree

A Mahanoy City man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on a slew of charges after he went on a crime spree over the past several days.

According to Mahanoy City Police, around 4:50pm, on Monday, Officer Frank Gallo received a report of a man with "Large Afro" and a scruffy beard throwing a brick through front window of the Citizen's Fire Company on West Centre Street.

While police were responding, an employee of the Mahanoy City ambulance began driving around to find the suspect, and when he did, the suspect pulled a knife and ran away.

With the help of surveillance video of  police were able to identify the suspect as Thomas Heiser, 41, of Mahanoy City, who was also known to have been involved in approximately 7 other incidents in the previous 5 days, where he caused damage or caused a disturbance to several businesses within the borough.  During all the other incidents, Heiser fled prior to police arrival.

Heiser was taken into custody at his residence late Monday evening and arraigned before on-call District Magisterial Judge David A. Plachko of Port Carbon, on charges of Aggravated Assault, Terroristic Threats, Institutional Vandalism, Persistent Disorderly Conduct, and Criminal Mischief.  He was committed to the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing will be scheduled before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker of Shenandoah at a later date.

Arrest Photo/Mahanoy City Police

Photo of the Smashed Window on the Citizen's Fire Company, Mahanoy City