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By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER; Times Leader Staff Writer
Friday, August 15, 1997     Page: 2A

NANTICOKE- Police arrested one of three suspects they say broke into an
elderly Nanticoke woman’s home last week and stole two purses.
   
Michael A. Holminski, 42, of West Church Street, Nanticoke, was identified
thanks to an alert Luzerne County courthouse security guard who got a license
plate number after he saw someone toss the purses off the Veterans Memorial
Bridge in Wilkes-Barre.
    The guard, David Wehrer, ran to the car as it was stopped at the traffic
light at North and River streets. He got a look at both the driver and a
passenger, then jotted down the plate number and called Wilkes-Barre police.
   
Holminski and the other two suspects, who remain at large, allegedly broke
into the State Street home of 93-year-old Helen Wysocki on Aug. 8 and
confronted her in her bedroom. One of the suspects grabbed two purses,
including one that contained $400, and the trio fled.
   
Wilkes-Barre police used a boat to retrieve the purses from the Susquehanna
River. Wysocki’s credit card and other items were recovered, but the cash was
gone.
   
Nanticoke Police Chief Chester Zaremba said he plans to write to the
Luzerne County Commissioners to recommend Wehrer be commended for his actions.
   
“Who throws something over a bridge at 7 o’clock in the morning? Dave
immediately realized there was a situation there,” Zaremba said. “Without his
actions there probably would not have been an arrest in this case.”
   
Holminski was traced through the car license plate, which was registered to
his parents. He was questioned by Nanticoke police Aug. 13 and denied
involvement, saying he was at a party the night before and someone “must have
taken” his car, according to the arrest affidavit.
   
Holminski previously served a one-year probation for attempting to cash a
forged check that belonged to his mother, according to court records. Police
obtained a photo of him from the Luzerne County probation department, and
Wehrer identified him.
   
Holminski was arraigned Thursday before District Justice Donald Whittaker
on charges of burglary, criminal trespass, theft by unlawful taking, receiving
stolen property and criminal conspiracy. He was taken to Luzerne County
Correctional Facility, where he was held Thursday night.