Driver involved in dangerous pursuit identified

The driver of the black Mercedes Benz who took city police on a brief, but very dangerous high-speed pursuit from the 800 block of Washington Boulevard to the T.J. Maxx Plaza along East Third Street on the morning of April 23 was Vincent J. Sarnowski, who has now been charged with felony fleeing law enforcement as well as flight to avoid apprehension, recklessly endangering another person plus driving with a suspended license, a summary offense. During the pursuit, which began about 10:30 a.m. and was just over a mile long, the 48-year-old Sarnowski traveled at speeds in excess of 80 mph in heavy traffic as he passed numerous vehicles and ran a red traffic light before pulling into the plaza, where he pulled into a parking space and was taken into custody. The pursuit began when an officer recognized him behind the wheel and knew there were two bench warrants issued for his arrest. Sarnowski, of 828 Grove St., who was automatically jailed in the Lycoming County Prison on the bench warrants, has since been arraigned before District Judge Aaron Biichle and held for court on the city police charges. He remains behind bars in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Admitted drug addict allegedly stole from relative’s Loyalsock home

Britney Chris Williams, 31, of 1290 Grove St., has been charged with felony theft and a misdemeanor charge of theft by deception for allegedly stealing jewelry as well as a music box and a framed print from the home of her aunt in the 1400 block of East Third Street in Loyalsock Township while she was staying at the victim’s residence during the months of March of April of last year, according to state police. The value of of the stolen items was estimated at $9,400, police said, adding that Williams allegedly sold the articles to Cillo Antiques and Coins in Williamsport for an estimated $720. Police said the business was unaware that the items were stolen. Following her arraignment last week before District Judge William Solomon, Williams, an admitted cocaine addict, was released on $15,000 bail in this case, but remains incarcerated in the county prison in lieu of bail on drug charges filed by the county’s Narcotics Enforcement Unit.

Fugitive’s attempts to elude capture fail

Aware that he was wanted for absconding from his parole officer, Michael James Willits was determined not to go back to jail when a state trooper pulled him over on Youngs Road near Scenic View Drive in Woodward Township about 7:15 p.m. Sunday, according to court records. So the 38-year-old man bailed out of his 2015 GMC Terrain and ran through yards and jumped two electrical fences before reaching woods, where he hid for nearly 90 minutes, police said. Troopers set up a security perimeter around the woods and ordered Willits seven times to come out, but he refused, police said. Finally, shortly before 9 p.m., one of the troopers spotted him in the woods and the fugitive was then immediately taken into custody. Willits, of 505 Center St., apartment 65, was arraigned before Biichle on charges of evading arrest, disorderly conduct, trespassing on posted agricultural land, possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia as well as eight summary offenses. He was locked up in lieu of $25,000 bail.

City woman struggles with sheriff deputies in her home

When a team of sheriff deputies paid a surprise visit at Angelina Irizarry’s city home at 634 Campbell St. to take the 50-year-old woman into custody on a bench warrant on May 6, it took at least three of them to do it, according to an affidavit filed by the county sheriff’s office. While putting up a struggle, the woman told them “Get the (expletive) off me,” and “You’re a dirty (expletive) pig,” it was stated in the court document. One of the deputies suffered minor injuries to her right elbow and knee, investigators said. Automatically incarcerated on the bench warrants, Irizarry has been charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. He has since waived his preliminary hearing before Biichle and remains jailed in the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Cumberland County man accused of assaulting daughter

Following a preliminary hearing before Biichle, Jacob Brown-Schields, 36, of Carlisle, Cumberland County, has been held for court on assault-related charges stemming from an incident in which he threw his juvenile daughter to the ground and stole a $700 cellphone from her in the 400 block of Hepburn Street in the city back on Jan. 7, 2025, a county detective alleged in an affidavit. Brown-Schields will face further court action on charges of simple assault, illegal interception of communication, disorderly conduct, theft, receiving stolen property and harassment. He is free on $20,000 bail.

Williamsport area man faces robbery-related charges

Following a preliminary hearing last week before Solomon, Brian Richard Jacobs, 52, of 2800 Lycoming Creek Road, will face further court actions on felony charges of robbery and criminal trespassing which stem from him illegally entering two properties in Lewis Township on April 19, according to state police. Upon entering one of the properties, this one on Susquehanna Camp Road, Jacobs “started acting erratically,” and according to testimony, confronted a man by pulling out a knife and demanding money, police alleged. Jacobs fled before getting any cash, but he was soon nabbed along Lower Grays Run Road near the second victim’s home, police said. He remains jailed in the county prison in lieu of $30,000 bail.