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Purse, cash reported stolen from inside a Wilkes-Barre residence

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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The attorney for a city man at the center of a guarded investigation into a fatal shooting is seeking to review crucial documents tied to an arrest earlier this month at the Luzerne County Courthouse.</p><p>Tevon Kashaine Thomas, 24, last known address of Wyoming Street, Wilkes-Barre, was taken into custody Oct. 5 ahead of a scheduled appearance to lift a warrant on unrelated theft charges, according to court documents. The same day, a county judge signed an order sealing documents related to the arrest.</p><p>Details of Thomas&#8217; arrest remained scarce for days as city police officials, investigators and Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis declined to shed light on the case, citing the seal and protection of witnesses involved.</p><p>But documents filed Monday by Thomas&#8217; attorney, Joseph P. Price, confirm authorities believe him to be a suspect in <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/583692/man-killed-in-north-sherman-street-shooting-identified" target="_blank">the fatal North Sherman Street shooting of 23-year-old Irvando Crooks last month</a>. Crooks, of Brooklyn, New York, suffered multiple gunshots in the Sept. 2 shooting. <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/584288/death-of-man-who-was-shot-friday-in-wilkes-barre-ruled-a-homicide" target="_blank">His death was ruled a homicide</a>.</p><p>Price, of Scranton, represented Thomas at a preliminary hearing <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/596642/man-appears-for-preliminary-hearing-on-homicide-charges-details-are-scarce" target="_blank">held under heavy security last week at the county courthouse</a>, but the hearing was continued before it began because Price didn&#8217;t possess details of the charges against his client. A new date is scheduled for Oct. 27.</p><p>Price on Monday filed a motion in Luzerne County Court requesting release of the documents for &#8220;his personal review,&#8221; saying the details are essential to preparing his case.</p><p>&#8220;It is crucial for the defense to be able to review the affidavit for arrest and other documents in advance of the day of the preliminary hearing in order (that) the defendant&#8217;s due process rights are upheld,&#8221; Price wrote in the motion, acknowledging he and Thomas are liable to be charged with contempt of court if they leak the information.</p><p>As he was led out of the courtroom last week, Thomas proclaimed his innocence.</p><p>&#8220;Y&#8217;all know I didn&#8217;t do nothing, man,&#8221; he said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Homicide suspect Tevon Thomas, 24, appeared at the Luzerne County Courthouse last week for a preliminary hearing held under tight security. Thomas is a suspect in the investigation into the shooting death of 23-year-old Irvando Crooks, of Brooklyn, New York. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/web1_web1_TTL101416TyvonThomas-4-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Homicide suspect Tevon Thomas, 24, appeared at the Luzerne County Courthouse last week for a preliminary hearing held under tight security. Thomas is a suspect in the investigation into the shooting death of 23-year-old Irvando Crooks, of Brooklyn, New York. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger file photo | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Joe Dolinsky</p><p>jdolinsky@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Joe Dolinsky at 570-991-6110 or on Twitter @JoeDolinskyTL</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Homicide suspect’s attorney seeks to review documents