A Schuylkill County man who apparently always wears sweatpants and Crocs and spends a lot of time at a vape shop is now facing burglary and other related charges following an incident last year.
Court documents filed last week show that on July 1, 2024, State Police-Schuylkill Haven was dispatched to a location on Lovers Lane in Pine Grove Township for a reported burglary in progress.
Police say they spoke with a witness who said they received a notification from a trail cam at the location indicating someone was inside a closed workshop. Break-ins have been a problem at this location in the past, the witness reportedly told police.
When the witness arrived at the workshop in response to the live notification, they opened the door, shouted, and heard a man’s voice in response say, “I’m sorry. It wasn’t me.”
The unknown man – later identified as Jonathan (or Jonathon) Coates, 39, of Tremont – was seen running out of another door to the workshop. The witness said Coates was wearing gray sweatpants and a pair of Crocs. He had long hair tied in a pony tail.
Inside the workshop, piles of aluminum discs and copper piping were seen and apparently were the target of Coates’ alleged break-in.
Police say they contacted the manager of the nearby Speedway convenience store who confirmed that the person in a trail cam still image was, indeed, Coates and that he was a former employee there. The manager said Coates always wore sweatpants and Crocs, no matter the weather. They also said that Coates was known to frequent DB’s Vape Shop nearby.
Police say they also confirmed that Coates had spent a lot of time at the vape shop but not since they moved.
Last week, police filed a felony burglary charge against Coates along with misdemeanor counts of theft and theft of secondary metal.
Coates was arraigned on Aug. 28 before Magisterial District Judge David Rossi. Rossi set bail at $100, which wasn’t posted and Coates remains in Schuylkill County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 25.
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