Stanley P. Brozana Jr., 72 – Served 37 Years as Orwigsburg Police Chief
Arrest warrants have been issued for two Schuylkill County men who police say sold two classic cars and a trailer they stole for a dirt bike, an ATV, and $800 in cash last year.
Police are actively looking for Michael McNulty, 31, and William “Bumper” Cook, 33, both of Pottsville, for their roles in this alleged incident. Felony charges have been filed against each of them in District Court.
According to a criminal complaint filed by State Police–Frackville, Troopers were called to a location on Ann St. in Norwegian Township back on Nov. 3, 2024, for a reported vehicle theft in progress.
When police arrived on the scene of the reported theft, they met a man who said he had driven past the property in question about 40 minutes prior to police arriving and saw two or three men loading a pair of classic cars that belonged to his friend onto a rollback. The cars, he said, were stored at this property.
By the time police arrived, the suspects had fled the scene. After police arrived, they spoke with a neighbor who confirmed what the friend had seen and also reported to police that he saw one of the suspects, who he identified as Bumper, getting away on a multi-colored dirt bike.
A short time later, police say the owner of the vehicles reported stolen arrived on the scene and identified the stolen vehicles as a white 1965 Chevrolet Malibu (which he valued at $8,500) and a black 1963 Chevrolet Impala (which he valued at $40,000). A 1987 special construction car trailer was also reported stolen.
The owner reportedly told police that he knew Bumper because he’d allegedly stolen from this property in the past.
While surveying the property, police say they saw an empty garage where the cars used to be. Its main door was open and paneling was missing. A white camper was noticed to be vandalized; its window on the main door was smashed to gain entry into the camper. Damage to the camper was valued at $12,000.
During a search of the camper, police say they found a duffel bag that contained various items of clothing and a Bible. The Bible had an inscription indicating it belonged to McNulty.
Behind the garage, police say they also found a tool bag with some tools inside, an E-Ton 90 ATV, a white and blue Schwinn bicycle, and a blue and white Huffy bicycle. The victim in this case told police those items didn’t belong to him.
As police attempted to determine who owned the rollback that was allegedly used to haul away the classic cars, it was eventually determined to be a company from Joliett.
Police say they contacted the owner of that towing company who said he’d been hired to tow the classic cars to a location in Tremont Township. They then went to that property and located the two classic cars. The vehicles were towed from that address to the State Police–Schuylkill Haven barracks and entered into evidence. The following morning, the trailer that was also reported stolen from Ann St. was labeled as stolen and alerts were issued for police to be on the lookout for it.
The following day, Nov. 5, police say they contacted the person in Tremont Township who purchased the two cars and trailer from McNulty and Cook. He reportedly told police that he’d been in contact with the two suspected thieves for an extended period of time and that he was trying to make a deal with them to also purchase a blue pickup truck at the same location in Norwegian Township.
Eventually, he said, he reached an agreement to purchase the two classic cars and trailer in exchange for a 2016 Suzuki RMZ 250 dirt bike (valued at $3,500), an E-Ton 90 ATV (valued at $200), and $800 in cash.
Police say the Tremont Township man identified Cook and McNulty as being present when he went to pick up the vehicles. He said after they concluded the deal, McNulty and Cook split the $800.
On Nov. 6, police say they recovered the dirt bike involved in the transaction, after it had been reported stolen.
The man who purchased the stolen vehicles visited police on Dec. 4 last year and provided them with evidence of messages he exchanged with Cook dating back to 2023, when he originally tried to purchase a blue truck from him for $2,500. Several times he said he tried to meet with Cook to see the truck, but that never happened.
On Nov. 2, the man told police that Cook messaged him with some urgency, telling him that he was losing the lease on the land and that he had to unload the truck. He eventually did meet with Cook at the property, where he tried to sell him the Impala for $2,500 and the truck for $500.
Cook eventually tried to trade both cars and the truck for the dirt bike and $500. The Tremont Township man said he gave Cook $800, the dirt bike, and ATV. He said Cook got the ATV and dirt bike and then split the cash with McNulty.
Cook has been charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, theft, and conspiracy to commit theft, all second-degree felonies.
McNulty has been charged with burglary, criminal trespass, and theft, all felonies.
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