BIG RUN BOROUGH, Pa. (EYT) — A Punxsutawney man is facing criminal charges for trespassing at a local business after being banned from the premises.
Court Records show that Punxsutawney-based State Police filed criminal charges against 53-year-old Edward Andrew Karklis, of Punxsutawney, in Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana’s office on January 22.
According to the criminal complaint, PSP Troopers David Pisano and Kurtis Jacoby were dispatched to a Family Dollar store on the 100 block of Main Street in Big Run Borough, Jefferson County, on November 6, 2023, for a report of a trespasser. Dispatch informed Trooper Jacoby that a known white non-hispanic male was told the previous day that he was banned from the store and that he had returned that day.
It was reported that the man was told to leave and refused, but he had fled the scene prior to the troopers’ arrival, the complaint states.
While on the scene, Trooper Jacoby conducted several interviews with store employees. While speaking with one of the employees, he learned that the male who was trespassed the previous day was identified as Edward Karklis, who resided in an apartment across the street from the business, the complaint indicates.
Trooper Jacoby learned from another employee that Karklis returned to the store with his girlfriend, a known female. The employee stated that the known was aware that Karklis was told not to return to the store. When told to leave, they continued shopping, according to the complaint.
Trooper Jacoby spoke to a third employee, who indicated she was at the center of the disturbance the day before when Karklis was trespassed. She related to Trooper Jacoby that she immediately told Karklis to leave, and he refused as his girlfriend became confrontational with the employees, the complaint continues.
While on the scene, Karklis and his girlfriend returned to speak with Trooper Jacoby.
During an interview with the girlfriend, she admitted that store employees told Karklis to leave, but she told him not to go.
When Karklis was asked why he refused to leave when store employees told him to do so, he stated that his girlfriend told him to stay in the store, the complaint notes.
According to court records, Karklis’ preliminary hearing is set for February 27 at 11:00 a.m. on the following charge in front of Judge Inzana:
- Defiant Trespass, Actual Communication to Actor, Misdemeanor 3
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