Cops chase box truck from Bloomsburg to Mifflinville

BLOOMSBURG — A man with a history of stealing vehicles took police on a long, dangerous chase Saturday morning after stealing a box truck from a tire and auto center, police say.

David E. Swartz, 50, almost hit four people, including a Bloomsburg police officer, a probation officer and two Press Enterprise photographers during a police chase that lasted nearly two hours, police say.

Here’s what police say happened:

A box truck was reported stolen from Bastian Tire and Auto Center around 8:15 a.m.

Heat tape malfunction starts trailer fire, fire chief says

SOUTH CENTRE TWP. — A heat-tape malfunction shot flames across the bottom of a trailer off Bissetts Lane here, leaving a woman temporarily homeless.

Resident Fran Dewale was home around 3 p.m. when she started to smell smoke, she said.

She was confused about where it was coming from, since she hadn’t burned anything. She started unplugging appliances, thinking it might be an electrical short. But then she looked outside and saw smoke rising from under her trailer.

Dewale, another woman and two small dogs all evacuated the trailer before fire crews arrived.

Bloom-area murder to be featured on national TV

The story of Frank Spencer’s 2012 execution-style murder will go national Saturday night, told by his friends, family and those who prosecuted the case, when CBS News true-crime series "48 Hours" premieres “Maria Spencer’s Vow to Kill.”

The hour-long dive into the dramatic story behind Spencer’s death airs at 10 p.m. on WYOU-TV and includes interviews with Spencer friends, police, prosecutors and Anthony Rocco Franklin, who is serving a life sentence for his role in the murder. 

Woman rescued after car crashes into freezing water

HEMLOCK TWP. — Braving near freezing temperatures and frigid, fast-moving waters, crews rescued a 21-year-old woman from the wreckage of her car in Fishing Creek Friday morning.

Danielle Wilk, Shamokin, wasn’t injured in the crash along Creek Road around 10:30 a.m., but it took rescuers nearly an hour to pull her from the overturned SUV and haul her to shore.  

It’s unclear what caused Wilk, who was headed north, to veer off the straight stretch of road, but tire tracks show the SUV traveled only a few feet along the shoulder before it was launched into the creek.

Geisinger determines source of deadly bacteria

DANVILLE — Geisinger infection control investigators have determined the source of bacteria linked to the deaths of three premature babies in Geisinger Medical Center’s neonatal intensive care unit. 

Using DNA testing in collaboration with state Department of Health officials, Geisinger traced the bacteria to equipment used to measure donor breast milk, the health system announced Friday.

Geisinger publicly confirmed the source of the pseudomonas bacteria one month after announcing in October that three premature babies had died in the NICU. 

Suspicious package shuts down Elysburg Sheetz

ELYSBURG — A suspicious trunk left outside Sheetz here shut down the business Thursday morning as authorities tried to figure what it was and who left it behind.

The large, military-style foot locker was spotted near a light pole at the southeast corner of the building and reported to workers inside around 9 a.m. They in turn called police.

Ralpho Township Police Chief Stu Appel said he cleared employees from the building and summoned Elysburg and Overlook fire departments to assist in shutting down the gas station and convenience store.

Bloomsburg University students organize protest

BLOOMSBURG — Days after video of a Bloomsburg University student conducting a mock slave auction surfaced, thousands of students gathered on campus Wednesday, demanding diversity from school officials — and unity and support from classmates.

Senior class president Matthew Lassus led the noon protest, which quickly swelled to fill the academic quad, in a prayer before reminding the crowd it was a peaceful gathering.

BU student fired from job after slave auction video surfaces

BLOOMSBURG — A Bloomsburg University student worker has been fired from the athletic training department after video of him acting out an auction of "n-----s" surfaced Sunday night.

The university addressed the video Monday morning, issuing a statement saying the “actions and language” in the video don’t represent the school’s values.

“As a safe, inclusive and diverse campus community, we promote and value the human dignity of all each and every day,” the statement said. 

CORRECTION: Deceased man is Roney Sr.

DANVILLE — A body removed from an apartment building here Friday, Nov. 1, was that of Tom Roney Sr., 59, according to Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn.  

A story published in the Saturday, Nov. 2, edition misidentified the deceased as Tom Roney Jr., 36. 

Roney Sr. was found by a maintenance man about 9 a.m. in the building at the corner of Center and Mill streets. Danville Borough Police and ambulance, State Police and the coroner investigated. 

An autopsy is scheduled today, Lynn said.

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