Woman accused of taking car 'to clear her head' resists arrest

MOUNT CARMEL - A Ralpho Township man has his vehicle back, sans a passenger side window, after reporting it missing Tuesday.

Melissa K. Sulick, 48, of 3 Clarion St., Shamokin, faces charges of resisting arrest and unauthorized use of automobiles after police said she took the vehicle of her brother-in-law without asking, drove it to a cabin in Clinton County and refused to exit it when confronted by police.

Patrolman Christopher Grow of the Ralpho Township Police Department said at approximately 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Maurice Earley notified police that when he awoke at 8 a.m., his 2010 silver Toyota Sequoia was missing.

He believed Sulick, a relative, had taken the vehicle because she had slept over at his house the previous night. A neighbor of the cabin called Earley and said the vehicle was parked there.

On Wednesday, a state police officer with the Lamar barracks visited the cabin, approaching the Sequoia while he drove down the lane, Grow said. The officer approached the driver and identified her using mug shots stored in the police database, and Sulick admitted her identity. When the officer patted her down, he discovered Earley's wallet in her front right pants pocket, Grow said. Sulick told the officer the Sequoia belonged to her brother-in-law and she borrowed it to go to the cabin to "think and clear her head."

That same day, a warrant was issued by Northumberland County Probation for Sulick's arrest. She was later spotted driving east on Route 54 and Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Keith Tamborelli pulled her over outside of Natalie, said Grow.

An officer attempted to arrest Sulick, who refused to exit the vehicle, police said. She held down the power lock button, preventing police from using a lockout tool to open the door, Grow said.

The officer told Sulick she needed to exit the vehicle or he would break the window, said Grow.

Sulick refused again, and the officer used a window punch to break the passenger front door window. He cleared the glass, entered the vehicle, turned of the ignition and removed the keys, said Grow.

Several officers removed Sulick from her brother-in-law's vehicle. Once outside, Sulick was uncooperative and refused to place her hands behind her back. Officers restrained Sulick and cuffed her, Grow said.

She was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judige Huge A. Jones and released on $10,000 bail.