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Abington Heights rolls past Holy Redeemer in boys hoops action

Two charged following domestic incident

<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; A man accused of a retail theft from the Rite Aid on East Main Street allegedly locked himself in his bathroom before being taken into custody on Sunday.</p><p>Police arrested Michael Rentko, 31, of Park Street and charged him with a felony charge of retail theft and a misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest</p><p>Police were dispatched to the Rite Aid for a report of a retail theft. Police met with a store clerk, who told police that she saw Rentko place items in his waistband and under his clothing.</p><p>Rentko denied taking anything when he was approached by the store clerk. The clerk then noticed that a decal was missing from a drill set and found an opened micro knife set with the contents of the set missing.</p><p>Rentko denied the theft again when the clerk approached him outside of the store, and then left the scene in a silver Nissan Pathfinder.</p><p>A record check through Luzerne County 911 indicated that the vehicle was owned by Rentko, and police also learned Rentko had an active warrant for failing to appear in court.</p><p>Police went to Rentko&#8217;s residence on Park Street and began to speak with Rentko at the doorstep. Rentko admitted to being in the store, but denied taking anything from the store.</p><p>Police then advised him that he had a warrant for his arrest, but Rentko allegedly said &#8220;no I&#8217;m not coming outside, and I&#8217;m not going anywhere with you.&#8221;</p><p>Officers told him he was being taken into custody and to not resist. Rentko allegedly declined again and attempted to slam the door, but an officer&#8217;s foot kept the door from closing.</p><p>Rentko then allegedly ran into the living room of his home, where he reportedly yelled &#8220;I have a dog&#8221; at officers before running through a dining room area and up a set of stairs. Rentko then allegedly locked himself in a bathroom of the residence, but police officers forcefully opened the door and took him into custody.</p><p>When police reviewed Rentko&#8217;s criminal history, it was learned that he has been convicted of retail theft five times between 2005 and 2013, making this is sixth consecutive offense.</p><p>Rentko was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Rick Cronauer later on the same day as the alleged theft. He is scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Donald Whittaker for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. on Jan. 13.</p><p>Court documents indicate that Rentko was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $15,000 bail.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Travis Kellar</p><p>tkellar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Nanticoke man accused of retail theft, locking himself in bathroom charged