Two Tyrone men, 24-year-old Nicholas and 21-year-old Michael McClellan, both of 106 E. 14th Street, who were wanted on a variety of charges here, have been arrested in the state of Georgia.
In addition to the arrest of the two men, Tyrone Police also reported a missing teenage girl who possibly went with the two men was also found in Georgia and placed in a juvenile detention center there. Tyrone police said the arrests of the men stem from incidents that happened earlier this month in the Tyrone area.
In a press release, Police Chief Joseph Beachem said on July 11, his department went to the scene of an accident on Adams Avenue around 5:12 a.m. Police discovered a car had struck a telephone pole with no one in or around the vehicle.
A witness told police that two “younger” white men had been driving the car and they were not hurt in the accident. The witness told police the men said they would return to the scene with a truck to pull the car from the pole. Another witness gave police similar details.
Police learned the car belonged to Diane K. Bollinger of W. 19th Street. Police went to Bollinger’s home and asked her if there were any young men staying at the residence. Bollinger said there were not and she was told her car had been found wrecked. Police found the garage at the residence open and discovered a pick-up truck belonging to Bollinger was also missing.
In his release, Beachem explained that through witness statements and other information, police determined the two men were possibly Bollinger’s grandsons.
Later on the day of the vehicle thefts, Tyrone Police received word of a 17-year-old Tyrone girl who had gone missing. Her mother told police she had not seen the teen since July 8. The police later learned the girl had possibly gone with the McClellans in the stolen truck.
A week after the motor vehicle thefts, police learned all three were in St. Mary’s, GA and authorities there were contacted. Police in Georgia contacted Tyrone Police last Friday and told them the McClellans were in custody and the girl had been placed in a juvenile detention center.
Arrest warrants for the McClellans had been obtained earlier in the day. Police said Michael McClellan had been working in a restaurant in Georgia and Bollinger’s truck was recovered.
The McClellans have been charged with two counts of theft of a motor vehicle, burglary, corruption of minors, criminal conspiracy, criminal mischief, two counts of criminal trespass, endangering the welfare of children and interference with custody of children.
In his release, Chief Beachem said the McClellans face extradition proceedings to be brought back to Pennsylvania. He said the girl is not being charged with any crime at this time.
The Daily Herald has learned the girl was released to the custody of her parents.
