Tamaqua man cited twice in three days

A Tamaqua man was cited twice within a three-day period.

Matthew Michael Hartranft, 32, of Coal Street in Tamaqua was observed driving a 1999 Dodge Avenger at 12:15 a.m. on July 17. The officer who saw him was aware that Hartranft’s driver’s license is suspended due to a driving under the influence charge. Hartranft told the officer he had been arguing with his wife, the owner of the Dodge, and then left the house and drove away.

He kept putting his hands in his pockets, despite the officer’s warning to keep them out. He then admitted to having hypodermic needles in one of the pockets. When those pockets were emptied, officers also found nine empty wax bags containing suspected heroin residue.

Officers went to his home in an effort to contact the wife so she could get her car, but no one answered. The vehicle was towed by Hope’s Towing of Tamaqua.

On July 19, at 4:50 p.m., police were investigating a suspicious activity report when they found Hartranft on the Iron Steps between Mahanoy Street and Cottage Avenue. He was with Chastity Yatsko, 24. Two white wax bags containing suspected heroin were sitting on a retaining wall within two feet of them.

Both denied any knowledge of the drugs, although Hartranft had a clear plastic bag with suspected drug residue and a hypodermic needle in the right front pocket of his cargo pants.

He was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia in both cases.