Police Dog Brutus Has Tumor, Will Retire, Chief Says

Lower Saucon Township Council has approved funding for the purchase of a new K-9 dog for the police department. The department's current K-9 dog, Brutus, will retire due to illness.

After years of faithful service, Lower Saucon Township Police Department's K-9 dog, Brutus, will retire. Police Chief Guy Lesser told township council Wednesday that Brutus recently recovered from a hind leg injury only to be diagnosed with a tumor on one of his front legs. Lesser said a canine oncologist has advised him that the tumor is "with near certainty" cancerous. As a result, Brutus "will cease to be active as a K-9," he added. Brutus' former handler may care for him during his final months, although Lesser said the exact details of his care have yet to be worked out. The chief said that although Brutus' illness was completely unforeseen, the timing for purchasing a replacement for him is relatively "opportune," since a new K-9 …

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Man Accused of Sexually Assaulting Teen Girls

Stephen S. Soultanian, of Drums, Luzerne County, sexually assaulted two teenage girls during a June sleepover, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday by Lower Saucon Township Police.

A 48-year-old man is accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls in Lower Saucon Township and telling an adult female who heard what he was doing, “It was the cat,” court records say. Stephen S. Soultanian of Drums, Luzerne County, was taken into custody Tuesday in connection with two incidents--the alleged sexual assault in June and a harassment complaint in October involving the woman at the same Lower Saucon address. A criminal complaint filed by Lower Saucon Cpl. Christopher Leidy alleges that Soultanian assaulted the two girls at a sleepover at their friend’s house. One of the girls told Leidy she was sleeping on a couch “like an angel” when she was awakened by something touching her. She said the touching "hurt," and then she …

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Police Reports

Lower Saucon Township Police Blotter: Dec. 1, 2012

The following information was supplied by the Lower Saucon Township Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Man Charged for Allegedly Failing to Register Alarm System Police say Jose Santiesteban, of the 1800 block of Viola Lane, was recently charged with failure to register an alarm system at his home, which is a violation of a township code. In a press release police said officers have responded to incidents involving the alarm's activation at Santiesteban's home. Police said they also sent him letters warning him to register the alarm, to which he allegedly failed to respond. Police Respond to Accident at Quarter Mile, Bingen Roads On Nov. 15 at 4:37pm police say they responded to a multiple vehicle accident at the intersection of Quarter Mile and Bingen roads. Police said in a press release that the accident involved a total of four vehicles…

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Township Police Warn of Charity Scams

On the Lower Saucon Township website, the police department has posted information about so-called "charity scams" that local residents should be wary of.

Editor's Note: The following information has been shared by the Lower Saucon Township Police Department. Visit the township's Police News page at www.lowersaucontownship.org for other timely public safety information. Charity scams take advantage of people’s generosity and kindness by asking for donations to a fake charity or by impersonating a real charity.  Charity scams involve scammers collecting money by pretending to be a real charity. The scammers can approach you in many different ways – on the street, at your home, over the phone, or on the internet. Emails and collection boxes may even be marked with the logos of genuine charities. Often the scammer will exploit a recent natural disaster or famine that has been in the news. Other…

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Prescription Drug Take-Back Day Set for Sept. 29

Colonial Regional Police, in addition to other departments and organizations, will participate in a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 29.

Lower Saucon Township Police, in addition to other local departments and organizations, will participate in a National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29. On this day you can safely dispose of unwanted or unused prescription drugs by taking them to the department headquarters at 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lower Saucon Township. Police officers will accept controlled, non-controlled and over-the-counter medications. Before handing over unwanted prescriptions, remove any personal information from bottles or packages that contain medications. Liquid products and creams in containers will be accepted. Sharpies and syringes will not be accepted because of the potential hazard posed by blood-borne …

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To Catch a Thief, Local Club Offers Reward

The Lower Saucon Sportsmen's Association is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for a June 21 burglary at the club.

A local social organization is offering a reward to help solve a case that township police have been investigating. In a Sept. 13 press release, the Lower Saucon Police Department announced that the Lower Saucon Sportsmen's Association is offering a $1,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the June 21, 2012 burglary of the LSSA, which is located at 2389 Easton Road. Anyone with information to share is asked to call the police at 610-317-6110.

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The Katz Meow

In Defense of a Local Cow Owner

There are a number of reasons for local police to cut Lower Saucon Township cow owner Christine Hess a break.

Patch recently reported that a local cow owner, Christine Hess, of 1987 Waldheim Road, Lower Saucon Township, had received two citations from our crime-fighting Lower Saucon Police, for allowing her cows to trek along Flint Hill Road. While I don’t think I have ever met Ms. Hess, we should take her word that something created a short circuit which knocked out the electric fence that imprisoned her cows. The cows, who are not really the dummies that most people think they are, took the opportunity to free themselves by struggling through the fence or jumping over it onto the road. It is hard to believe that Ms. Hess deliberately took the chance of losing a cow. Those cows don’t grow on trees, you know. Besides, cows are our heritage. …

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Lower Saucon PD Welcomes New Full-Time Patrolman

Easton resident Shawn Moskella was sworn-in as a full-time patrolman with the Lower Saucon Township Police Department on July 18, 2012.

An Easton resident who has been a part-time patrolman for the Lower Saucon Township Police Department since 2009 was recently promoted to full-time status. The LSTPD announced earlier this month that Shawn Moskella was sworn-in as a full-time Lower Saucon police patrolman on Wednesday, July 18, as his parents, grandparents and girlfriend looked on. Moskella's mother pinned his new badge on his uniform as part of the swearing-in ceremony. Moskella is a 2000 graduate of Notre Dame High School and earned a Bachelor's Degree in criminal justice from East Stroudsburg University in 2004. He is a 2005 graduate of the Allentown Police Academy. In addition to working part-time for the LSTPD, Moskella also previously worked as a part-time patrolman …

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Police Reports

Lower Saucon Township Police Blotter: July 19, 2012

The following information was supplied by the Lower Saucon Township Police Department. Where arrests or charges are mentioned, it does not indicate a conviction.

Homeowners Cited for High Grass/Weeds On June 26 police say Tari and Ronald Black, of 1515 Bette Lane, were cited for failing to cut grass/weeds on their property. Police said in a press release that the grass had become "too high," which is in violation of the township's ordinance. Police: Intoxicated Woman Crashed Car in Drainage Ditch On July 4 at 4:16am police say Shannon Davies, of the 1100 block of Maple Spring Drive, Slatington, crashed her vehicle into a drainage ditch on Black River Road. Police said in a press release that Davies was subsequently determined to have a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .14 percent. Davies has been charged with DUI, they said. Man Arrested for DUI at Seidersville Road and Old Philadelphia Pike On July …

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