Attempted theft and assault are among the charges in district court | News, Sports, Jobs

Woman arrested after attempted handbag robbery

Jacolia Walker, 40, of 848 W. Fourth St., was arrested on suspicion of stealing another woman's purse while the victim was waiting for a bus at the corner of West Fourth and Campbell streets around 9 a.m. on July 9, city police say.

The attempted purse snatching was witnessed by a police officer who intervened and arrested Walker, police said. During the ordeal, the victim “pulled to the ground”, it was stated in an affidavit.

Walker, who is charged with attempted robbery, attempted theft and receiving stolen goods, waived her preliminary hearing before District Judge Christian Frey last week and remains jailed despite being held on $20,000 bail.

Two women charged with riot

Rashonda Mack, 26, of 509 Rural Ave., and Dominique Jett, 37, of 507 Rural Ave., were both charged with numerous felony charges following a disturbance at the Brandon Cafe, 410 Washington Blvd., around 10:30 p.m. on July 31, city police said.

The two were charged with rioting, possession of a weapon and simple assault, while Mack is also charged with terroristic threats and property damage and Jett also faces a charge of disturbing the peace, police said.

The two entered the bar with three other women and attacked two female guests, police said. One victim suffered “a black eye and scratches on the face, while the other suffered a large bruise on her arm,” it was stated in an affidavit.

Mack tried “to use a pocket knife that she was carrying”, However, she was quickly disarmed by another guest, police claimed. “Jett brought a soup can in a sack, which she allegedly intended to use as a weapon,” This was alleged in a criminal complaint.

After Mack and Jett and the three other women had all been chased out of the bar, “Mack walked around the bar and waited for the victims to come out. Surveillance video showed Mack banging on a side door, trying to get in.” Police said in an affidavit that Mack was also observed pulling a firearm from her waistband and “Point it at the building before you stuff it back into your waistband,” police said in the document.

According to police, Mack slashed the tire of one of the victims' parked cars, causing a flat tire. Police also said Mack allegedly made threats on social media to attack the two victims.

Mack and Jett were recently scheduled to appear before District Judge Aaron Biichle and both were released on $50,000 bail each.

New charges brought against prison inmates

Bryanna Gomez-Vanwyk, 31, an inmate at the Muncy State Correctional Institution, was charged with aggravated assault and simple assault after she attacked another inmate at the prison on Route 405 in Clinton Township on May 18, state police said.

Gomez-Vanwyk allegedly brandished a so-called “Finish the sock” at the woman, hitting her in the upper body and arms, police said. The victim also suffered head injuries, “eight staples” to close, police. Gomez-Vanwyk was arraigned before District Judge Kirsten Gardner but has since waived her preliminary hearing and remains jailed despite being posted on $50,000 bail. She is currently serving a five- to 10-year prison sentence after being convicted of aggravated assault in Montgomery County, according to a jail spokeswoman. She began her state prison sentence on June 1.

South Side man faces additional charges in assault case

Gregory Gunsallus, 40, of 217 E. Mountain Ave., South Williamsport, has been charged with additional charges stemming from a brutal attack in which a woman “strangled” According to state police, she was injured multiple times and drowned in a Hughesville apartment on July 26, leaving her breathless for 10 to 15 seconds.

According to investigators, Gunsallus is already charged with strangulation and simple assault, and now he is also charged with terrorist threats and false imprisonment for the same incident after new evidence came to light.

After a preliminary hearing last week, Judge Gardner ordered Gunsallus charged with all offenses and remains free on $35,000 bail.

Stadtmann charged with resisting the public prosecutor

After a preliminary hearing before Biichle, Q Augustus Drummond, 36, 810 Packer St., was arraigned on charges of resisting city police, obstruction of justice and disturbing the peace. The charges stem from an incident in which he refused to identify himself and pushed two police officers off his porch on Jan. 31, an affidavit states.

Police were there to investigate a report of a woman screaming in his home, the court document said. It did not say whether officers found anyone else on the property. Drummond is free on $25,000 bail.