A Bloomsburg man suspected of leaving a Hazle Township store in stolen clothing was arrested by state police at Hazleton on Saturday.
Police also arrested a second man found in a waiting vehicle that contained stolen items and suspected drugs.
Eric Wayne Simons, 28, of Bloomsburg was charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and use or possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also charged with one count each of manufacture, delivery or possession of a controlled substance with intent to manufacture or deliver, possession of a small amount of marijuana, retail theft, harassment and public drunkenness.
Alan Leroy Cool, 44, of Nescopeck, was charged with two counts of drug possession and one count of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver.
Simons was caught Saturday leaving Kmart in the Laurel Mall, while wearing a pair of socks, slippers and jeans that he did not pay for, police said. Simons allegedly shoved a loss prevention officer while running out of the building.
Cool was waiting for Simons in a vehicle belonging to Simon's sister, police said. Troopers found drug paraphernalia in the vehicle and on Cool, police said. Police did not state which man was driving the vehicle.
Police executed a search warrant on the vehicle and found more narcotics. In the rear of the vehicle, troopers found a large amount of copper piping, two boat motors and numerous power tools.
Police ask anyone with information regarding the items found to call 570-459-3890 and reference incident number N01-1082740.
Simons and Cool were transported to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in Wilkes-Barre for preliminary arraignment. Unable to post $10,000 cash bail, they were both lodged at the prison.
Copyright 2011 - Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service
