Two Schuylkill County men have been charged Tuesday with burglarizing a pair of homes damaged in a fatal fire last year.
Shortly before 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, State Police-Schuylkill Haven say they were dispatched to Minersville St. in Norwegian Township for a report of two men walking in the yards of homes that were damaged in a December 2024 fire.
A man died inside one of those homes during the fire.
Police say they were told that one of the men in the yard was wearing black pants and a black cut-off shirt. The other man was reportedly wearing a blue shirt and blue shorts.
According to their affidavit, police say they did not locate the suspects. However, a Subaru Forester was located near the scene. Its registration traced back to a person known by State Police. So police say they decided to wait nearby to see if the suspects would return.
Sure enough, a short time later, two men approached the vehicle. Both were covered in soot, police say. Their clothes fit the description that police earlier.
The suspects were identified as Michael Spirko, 52, of Pottsville, and Corey Cromyak, 38, of New Philadelphia.
Police say Spirko and Cromyak admitted to entering 313 and 315 Minersville St. through a rear door. They reportedly said they were looking for valuables inside. Spirko had a pair of pliers on him, police say. Neither had any items from inside the homes.
Spirko and Cromyak are each being charged with burglary, a second-degree felony, and misdemeanors for possessing an instrument of crime and theft. Both were arraigned before District Magistrate Judge David Plachko. Plachko set bail at 10% of $25,000 for each and remanded them to Schuylkill County Prison, where they remain.
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