Inmate charged after refusing to submit a court-ordered DNA sample

Convicted felony and county prison inmate Jaziah Strickland has been arrested on a misdemeanor charge of obstructing the administration of law and recommitted in lieu of an additional $5,000 bail, according to a detective assigned to the county’s Narcotics Enforcement. The new charge stems from the 27-year-old inmate refusing to comply with a search warrant that he was served on March 13, ordering him to submit a sample of his DNA, it was stated in an affidavit filed at the office of District Judge Aaron Biichle. When the detective served the warrant at the prison, Strickland “threw it on a nearby table and said ‘I’m not giving you (expletive) without my lawyer,'” the court document stated. Strickland, whose last known address was of the 900 block of Park Avenue, “returned to his cell without providing the DNA sample,” the detective said. The court document did not say why the detective was seeking the sample. Based on published reports, it was believed Strickland has been locked up since early November when he was arrested on a charge of convicted felon not to possess a firearm. This felony offense stems from him allegedly posting on social media a photo – suspected to be him – holding a firearm on Oct. 31, according to investigators with the narcotics unit.

Williamsport man charged with resisting arrest

After waiving his preliminary hearing before District Judge William Solomon, Lamar Allen Strothers will face further court action on charges of resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia that were filed by the county’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit. The charges stem from an incident in the 300 block of River Avenue in Loyalsock Township in which Strothers struggled with four officers who were taking him into custody as part of a drug investigation. Strothers, 47, of 849 Elizabeth St., was initially jailed, Strothers has since been released on $35,000 bail.

Cascade Township man faces to sets of charges

In one of two criminal cases, Charles Twigg, 41, also known as “Rusty,” of 854 McNamee Road, Trout Run, faces charges for stealing methamphetamine and prerecorded buy money totaling $160 while working with a detective assigned to the county’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit on Dec. 11, it was alleged in court records filed at the office of District Judge Christian Frey. After agreeing to work with the narcotics unit, Twigg was given $320 cash to buy methamphetamine from a dealer in a home in the 300 block Campbell Street in the city, investigators alleged. The sale actually took place, but Twigg kept the methamphetamine and half of the $320 for himself, investigators said. What he handed over to the detective he claimed was methamphetamine, but the crystals he gave him tested negative, the court document stated. Charged with theft, obstructing the administration of law and fabricating physical evidence, Twigg has since waived his preliminary hearing and is free on $5,000 bail.

In the other case, Twigg has been charged with felony theft and theft from a motor motor vehicle that stems from him allegedly stealing a handgun from his sister’s car while it was parked at an unknown location in Lycoming County sometime in the first five months of 2025, according to state police. After the theft, the firearm was sold to another person, but investigators with the narcotics unit have since recovered it, according to an affidavit. Jailed in the Lycoming County Prison on other issues, Twigg was arraigned Tuesday morning before District Judge Kirsten Gardner on the charges involving the stolen firearm and recommitted in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Tenant allegedly caused in excess of $5,000 damage to rental property

Upon hearing the noise and commotion coming from Andrew James Holleran’s home at 2322 W. Fourth St. about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday, neighbors thought the place “was being destroyed” so they called 911, it was stated in a city police affidavit. When officers arrived on scene, they saw that “the front door and all the windows to the home were all damaged,” the court document. Holleran, 32, rented the property, but he was being evicted by the owner and had until Monday to get out, police were. It was alleged by the landlord that Holleran caused in excess of $5,000 damage to the house, police said, adding that Holleran “threw a door and other household items out onto the front yard.” Following his arraignment before Gardner on charges of felony criminal mischief and disorderly conduct, Holleran was jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Driver charged with hit-run after allegedly fleeing scene of city crash

Vanessa Anne Chilen, 33, of 457 Grant St., has been charged with accidents involving damage to property (hit-run) for fleeing the scene of a crash in which the 2010 GMC Yukon she was driving slammed into some trees and overturned on its driver’s side at Beeber Street and Ames Place on the morning of Feb. 22, city police alleged in an affidavit. A family member called a friend to pick Chilen up at the scene before police were contacted by a witness, the court document stated. The family member who initially said she was the driver but then admitted that Chilen was behind the wheel at the time of the crash – told police she did not want Chilen to “get into trouble for driving with a suspended license,” the affidavit stated. Chilen has since waived her preliminary hearing before District Judge Christian Frey and is free on $5,000 bail.