​Freeland Police responded to the rear of the 300 block of Centre Street today after a construction worker in the area spotted a tank with two snakes inside of it in the alleyway.

Officer Mizenko, Sergeant Racho, and Chief Schuetrumpf responded to find two ball python snakes which were doused in gasoline inside of the glass tank. One of the snakes was deceased.

​Police say that the second snake was washed off prior to transporting it to Cage-N-Tank where it will be rehabilitated.

Police are searching for those responsible and plan to file, at minimum, charges of cruelty to animals. "Anything that I can make apply, will apply." Chief Schuetrumpf said when questioned about possible charges.

Police are asking anyone with information to call 5706360111 or 911.

​An investigation by the Hazleton city Police Department Detective division culminated in the arrest of 33 year old Jason Pollick of Hazleton yesterday.

Beginning on May 2, 2019 and ending on May 28, 2019, Hazleton City Police Department and the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office conducted an investigation into suspected child abuse.

The victim, an eight-year-old male at the time of the abuse was allegedly subjected to touching the genitalia of the defendant on numerous occasions.

According to Police, Pollick is being charged with Indecent assault on an individual less than 13 years of age without the consent of another.

Pollick was taken into custody, charged and arranged before Judge Joseph Zola. 

Statement of Chief Speziale:
“We will continue to protect the children of our community. “

On Wednesday, May 29, 2019, at approximately 2:30am, Hazleton City Patrol Units were dispatched to the 300 block of East Mine Street for the report of a male with a gunshot wound to the foot. 

Upon further investigation it was learned that Felix Chapman shot the victim in the foot after the victim attempted to diffuse a fight between Chapman and another male. Chapman was taken into custody at his residence. 

He was later arraigned by Magistrate Zola where he was remanded to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility after failing to post $50,000 straight bail. Chapman was charged with Aggravated Assault, Terroristic Threats, Reckless Endangerment, and Simple Assault. 

​Statement by Chief Speziale:
"Our Detective's, are the finest and their tireless efforts, quickly and successfully pieced this investigation together."

​Pennsylvania State Police Corporal Eric T. Porpiglia was charged yesterday with crimes relating to driving under the influence. The charges were filed by state police investigators from Troop N, Hazleton.


According to a press release, Corporal Porpiglia enlisted in the Pennsylvania State Police in November 2007 and was assigned to Troop N, Hazleton. He is suspended without pay pending resolution of the criminal charges against him and an internal investigation.

The incident started when Hazleton City Police responded to 22 North Poplar Street after a man driving by saw a small child in the middle of the road without clothes on.


Officers immediately took custody of the child and went to 22 N. Poplar St. were a second small child was seen standing in the doorway.


Officers saw a third child who told police that his brother was supposed to be watching them but was up the street.


Officers entered the residence and found the interior to be in deplorable condition.


Offi ers saw human feces on the floor and walls, as well as a large number of insect infestation throughout the residence.


Officers took protective custody of the following children: 13 year old male, 8 year old male, 7 year old male, 4 year old male, and a 3 year old female.


Officers were unable to make contact with the children’s mother.


Children and Youth was contacted and a caseworker responded to City Hall and took custody of the children.


Hazleton Code enforcement was also contacted and responded to the residence and condemned the 2nd floor apartment.


Det. Green was notified and responded and photographed the apartment.


A Child line referral completed.


Charges are
Pending.


Statement of Chief Speziale:
“We will continue to protect the welfare of our children”

Throughout the early evening, Hazleton Police received several complaints regarding off road ATVs and dirt bikes riding on the roadways. 

Hazleton Police received a report for 810 N. Vine Street at 2003hrs.

Police were told that quads and dirt bikes driving on the roadway towards Diamond Avenue.

Police saw five off-road vehicles going South on Wyoming Street through a steady red traffic signal.

A-traffic stop was attempted on a 2009 Suzuki Motorcycle at which time the vehicle failed to yield and accelerated at a high rate of speed traveling South on Wyoming Street Proceeding through several clearly posted traffic signals.

The motorcycle was followed through Arthur Gardner Highway at high rates of Speed until Conahan Drive at which time police fell back and terminated that pursuit for the safety of officers and the general public.

The motorcycle was followed slowly from a safe distance when the motorcycle suddenly stopped in the area of 1000 S. Church Street at which time the male operator put his hands in the air and pulled over.

The male, identified as 24 year old Deiby M. Martinez was taken into custody and transported to City Hall without incident.

The dirt bike was towed by Zeiner’s and is NOT releasable. Martinez was processed and charged with Fleeing & Eluding(F3) and numerous traffic offenses.

Martinez will need to be taken for overnight arraignment. 

Statement by Police Chief Jerry Speziale:
“Anyone that disrupts the quality of life with these machines will be held accountable and the machines will be seized”

It is no secret that the Hazleton Area School District suffers from severe capacity issues in it's classrooms. This has led the district to make cuts in order to provide more classroom space.

While construction still continues on Phase I of the District-wide pan to address capacity by converting pools at four elementary schools into classrooms is still underway, the Hazleton Area School District is working to move ahead with Phase IA which will address capacity issues by converting libraries into classroom space.

Phase IA has two options. Option 1 will maintain the library program by cutting library space in half and having half of a library and one additional classroom. Option 2 will eliminate the library program by creating two additional classrooms where libraries currently exist.

A PDF dated April 4th but dated today shows the proposed changes to Hazleton Area Schools.
View that PDF here. www.hasdk12.org/cms/lib/PA01001366/Centricity/Domain/1/HASD%20-%20Facilities%20Update%2004%2004%202019R.pdf

Do you support the removal or reduction of libraries to provide more classroom space?

PennDOT wants to hear from you about how they are doing.

Providing your opinion can help improve services next winter.

The public can take the winter feedback survey through May 7 at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PennDOTWinter.

Around 10:30pm last night, Officers Conarty and Shaw saw a vlack Honda Civic run a red light at Broad and Laurel a press release says.

Officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle which was driven by 19 year old Kiara Quaylynn Johnson and occupied by 20 year old passenger Shamel Ellis.

According to the press release, when Johnson tried to open the glove box for the registration information, police saw Ellis smack her hand away and hold the glove box shut. Officers again asked for the registration. This time, Johnson opened the glove box just enough that the officer on the passenger side of the vehicle saw a large amount of packaged heroin in the glove box.

Police say Ellis pushed the glove box shut at which time he was removed from the vehicle and placed into custody. 

Johnson was also then removed from the vehicle and placed into custody. 

Search of the vehicle resulted in approximately 1350 packets of heroin, 5 cell phones, and a small amount of marijuana. 

Ellis was found to be in possession of  $288.00 in US Currency.

Both persons transported Hazleton headquarters.

The vehicle was towed by Zeiner’s and placed in tow book.

Officers still actively investigating this incident.

The Luzerne County District Attorney's Office's newest member, K-9 Spike, just got a new donated outfit.

Choice One Community Credit Union donated a bullet-proof dog vest to the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office for K-9 Spike, an electronic detection dog who has been assigned to the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit. 

The vest will help keep Spike safe as he conducts his daily responsibilities of searching for electronic devices and equipment, which are sometimes no larger than a fingernail and might contain critical evidence of criminal activity. 

From left: Lisa Weihbrecht, Debbie Kendra, District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis, Detective Charles Balogh, Spike, Paulette Myers, Karen Finnegan, Jessica Vito, Cathy Bonita, and Chris George.
 

PA Legislators toured the Susquehanna Nuclear Plant in Salem Township on Thursday ahead of a hearing on House Bill 11.

If passed, House Bill 11 would put nuclear energy into the same bracket as solar and wind since nuclear energy is almost entirely carbon free.

Representative Tarah Toohil is among those sponsoring the bill. "We talked with some of the 700 employees and learned what the facility means to our region’s economy." Toohil posted about the tour. "The proposal would preserve jobs in Pennsylvania’s nuclear energy industry and help to stabilize electricity prices." she added.

The legislation will be the focus of a public hearing Monday at the Capitol.

 Mahanoy City Police say that a Borough man was arrested in relation to numerous incidents that started around 7pm yesterday and continued through the night.

Police charged 37 year old William Rodriguez of Mahanoy City with felony aggravated assault, felony criminal trespass, simple assault, numerous counts of resisting arrest, and harassment.

Rodriguez was arraigned this morning by Judge Reiley of Pottsville and committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $20,000 straight cash bail.

An undercover investigator with Compassion Over Killing (COK) has released a shocking video showing cows at a Pa dairy farm being punched, kicked, stomped, prodded, burned, and drug by machinery.

Working inside Martin Farms in Chambersburg Pennsylvania, COK’s investigator documented violent abuse of mother cows and their calves. The group says this is some of the worst abuse they’ve ever documented. They say it also shows practices representative of what life is like for animals on a typical dairy farm.

COK’s investigator followed a truck from this factory farm to an ice cream facility, owned by the world’s largest dairy company: Nestlé, the maker of ice cream brands including Dreyer’s, Edy’s, and Häagen-Dazs.

COK’s shocking video reveals:

• “Downed” cows, unable to walk or stand, hoisted by their hips with metal clamps, to be moved or chained and dragged by tractor
• A manager shooting a “downed” cow in the head, who remains conscious for almost a minute before she’s finally shot for the last time
• Farm manager stabbing a cow with a sharp instrument in a botched attempt to supposedly treat a stomach ailment. The cow bleeds heavily and receives no pain relief or veterinary care.
• “Downed” cows abused, killed, and butchered on site, the meat distributed to workers in garbage bags
• Workers spraying cows in the face with scalding hot water to force them to move faster
• A cow with a teat that had been sliced off, bleeding as she’s being milked
• Cows, many sick and injured, being hit, stomped on, or kicked by workers
• Cows suffering bloody, painful uterine prolapses and open sores denied vet care

Watch the video here:

WARNING - THE VIDEO IS SHOCKING

Martin Farms, which has been raising cows for the past 45 years, follows the National Dairy Farmers Assuring Responsible Management or FARM Program. The farm's Animal Care Reference Manual prohibits willful mistreatment of animals described acts that maliciously cause pain, injury or suffering.

After obtaining the video, Compassion Over Killing viewed it and filed an animal abuse complaint with the Pennsylvania State Police, who confirm they are aware of the allegations of animal cruelty. Police say Martin Farms has been fully cooperative and no charges have been filed in the ongoing investigation.

Nestlé's Response:
After seeing the video and documentation of abuse, Nestlé, who's motto is “Good food, Good life,”, responded that it immediately severed ties with Martin Farms.

"We are deeply disturbed and shocked at the mistreatment of dairy cows shown in this video, and strongly condemn it. Consumers trust us to hold our suppliers to strong standards, and these actions violate that trust. As soon as we learned of this issue, we immediately stopped accepting milk from Martin Farm." Nestlé told ABC 7.

Martin Farms Response: Martin Farms issued a statement on April 3rd stating “We do not tolerate any animal mistreatment” and “we are shocked that these incidents took place on our farm.” The company said that “All employees shown in the video mishandling animals…have been terminated.”

Four employees identified in the video mishandling animals were immediately fired as well as the foreman who was alerted to the abuse by our investigator but had also participated in abuse at the farm according to COK.

State Police have charged a McAdoo man with attempted homicide after they say he stabbed a man in Sheppton yesterday morning.

When police arrived at the West Pine Street home in Sheppton just after 3am, 44 year old Mariano Ovalles of E. Grant Street in McAdoo was being held in a closet by two men and a woman Police say.

Ovalles who's hands and clothing were bloody, told Police in broken English "two boyfriends at one time", according to Police. Ovalles also said that he drank 12 beers.

Sagrario Amarlis Munoz-Roa, Ovalles' ex-girlfriend, and her current boyfriend Mario Alexandry Marine-Abreu live at the home where they told Police Ovalles entered and said "I told you I was going to kill him".

Marine-Abreu was flown to Geisinger Danville for stab wounds to his upper chest sustained when Ovalles allegedly kicked open the bedrooms door and stabbed Marine-Abreu with a knife. The two struggled until Ovalles was secured inside the closet.

Frackville State Police charged Ovalles with two counts of felony aggravated assault, felony burglary, felony attempt to commit criminal homicide, felony criminal trespass, and felony criminal mischief. He was also charged with misdemeanor simple assault and reckless endangerment.

Ovalles was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker of Shenandoah and jailed at Schuylkill County Prison after being unable to post $500,000 straight cash bail.

The 309/Kennedy Drive Project has begun. PennDOT says the main construction this year will be on Kennedy Drive between Washington Street and Sherman Street.

This area of Kennedy Drive will be closed to traffic from May 30th to September. Mail and garbage services will still continue for residents and businesses. Sidewalks will be open for pedestrians and businesses can expect deliveries/pickups to be accommodated. McAdoo EMA states.

From September to the end of October, Kennedy Drive will be closed to through traffic from Sherman Street to Blaine Street with the same restrictions and allowances.

The work that will be done in the areas above includes sidewalks, roadway, drainage, waterline relocation, signals and ADA ramps along with a new box culvert under Kennedy Drive that moves water in the Celebration Creek.

​Harrisburg, PA– Governor Tom Wolf was joined today at the Opioid Operational Command Center at PEMA by Acting Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner Lieutenant Colonel Robert Evanchick, York County District Attorney David Sunday, and others to recognize the one-year anniversary of the Pennsylvania Overdose Information Network (ODIN), and the positive impact the information-sharing tool has had on the commonwealth’s progress and continuing fight against the opioid epidemic.

Launched in March 2018, ODIN is a centralized repository to track overdoses, naloxone administrations, and investigative drug information that allows police, public safety, and healthcare professionals to share all types of information related to opioid abuse in their communities. ODIN is now used by more than 1,300 agencies in all 67 counties in Pennsylvania, including 1,000 municipal police departments.

“We are making progress in our battle against the opioid epidemic thanks to cooperation and collaboration at all levels and across all facets of government,” said Governor Wolf. “Support from counties and municipalities for the sixteen state agencies and commissions that are part of the Opioid Operational Command Center is vital to our continued success.”

The real-time information-sharing made possible by ODIN has proven to be a useful tool to aid in the apprehension of heroin and fentanyl distributors, by ensuring that actionable information does not slip through the cracks.

“ODIN was developed by the state police, but its success in the past year is directly attributable to the information supplied by its users throughout Pennsylvania,” said Lieutenant Colonel Evanchick. “We are grateful to all who use the platform every day to provide crucial information from their individual areas of responsibility. Their contributions help to create a clear picture of the opioid-related issues that affect us all.”

Lieutenant Colonel Evanchick pointed to York County as an example of ODIN’s success. Law enforcement in York County has recorded 610 overdoses and 488 naloxone administrations since the system’s inception.

“The effects of the opioid epidemic reach far beyond the boundaries of any one police department, agency, or county,” said York County District Attorney David Sunday. “ODIN has proven to be a useful tool to standardize the way we collect and share crucial information.”
ODIN was made possible through a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State Police and the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) and is available to all law enforcement agencies in the commonwealth. For agencies that are unable to enter their own information, county 911 centers have the capability to enter relevant data.

Soon, ODIN will add functionality allowing agencies to import legacy data from their own reporting systems, as well as the ability to export statistical data for integration into existing applications. The enhanced interoperability will produce more detailed and specific reports in individual communities.

Overdose and naloxone administration data is available to the public through Pennsylvania’s Open Data Portal. The information can be used with other data collected throughout the state to better understand how the overdose epidemic continues to impact the commonwealth.

Gov. Wolf made the unprecedented step in 2018 to declare the heroin and opioid crisis a disaster and along with that established the Opioid Operational Command Center, a collective of 16 state agencies and various advocate and stakeholder groups working together to battle this crisis with recent indications of success.

The governor outlined efforts and progress when he signed the declaration’s sixth 90-day renewal in March. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control indicates some parts of Pennsylvania saw a decrease in overdose deaths from 2017 to 2018.

In addition, since Gov. Wolf signed the opioid disaster declaration, data points to progress:

• Emergency medical service providers have administered 18,560 doses of naloxone, leaving behind 657 doses;
• Hospitals and birthing centers have reported 2,359 cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome in newborns;
• More than 1,500 birth certificate fees have been waived for patients to get into treatment;
• More than 19,300 residents have been admitted to emergency rooms because of a suspected opioid or heroin overdose; and
• The Get Help Now hotline has received more than 19,500 calls looking for information or to connect someone with a local treatment provider.
• More than 258 tons of drugs were collected and destroyed by law enforcement from the more than 800 drug take-back boxes across the commonwealth.
  ​

More on how the Wolf Administration is battling the opioid epidemic can be found here. More on opioid use disorder treatment and services can be found here.

​Brian Dickinson, 37, of West Hazleton charged with one felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver(Fentanyl)

​Timothy Pendergast, 25, of Hazle Township charged with one Felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance(Methamphetamine) and 1 felony count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.

​Arrest warrants issued for the following:

Brittany Hinkle, 24, of McAdoo charged with 1 felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance and 1 felony count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility for a delivery of methamphetamine.

Charges to be filed against the following:

Gianna Julian, 21, of Mahanoy City charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance(fentanyl), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Christina Klick, 44, of West Hazleton charged with possession of a controlled substance(fentanyl) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Austin Calarco, 21, of West Hazleton charged with possession of a controlled substance(marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bruce Nelligan, 29, of Orrtanna charged with possession of a controlled substance(methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

​Details of Investigation:

Throughout March and April of 2019 Investigators conducted several controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Dawn Cragle and Brian Dickinson’s residence at 418-420 West Green Street in the borough of West Hazleton. This investigation led up to a search warrant being executed at Cragle’s residence on April 03, 2019 as well as warrants being served at the Hazleton Motor Inn Room 102 in the City of Hazleton. Just prior to the search warrant Cragle and Dickinson were taken into custody during a traffic stop where they were found to be in possession of 30.2 grams of packaged fentanyl and several grams of methamphetamine. Several grams of methamphetamine were purchased from the residence as well. Cragle would serve customers and arrange the sales to customers via telephone.

As investigators served the warrant on Green Street a team served the warrant on The Hazleton Motor Inn Room 102 where Scott Wanamaker was attempting to flush methamphetamine down the toilet and was also taken into custody.

Cragle, Dickinson, Wanamaker and Pendergast were all taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for overnight arraignment.

This joint investigation was conducted by Investigators from the West Hazleton Police Department, The Hazleton City Police Department and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force.
​
Also assisting were members from the West Hazleton Police Department Patrol Division, The Hazleton City Police Department Patrol Division, The Hazleton City Police Department Special Operations Group, The Sugarloaf Township Police Department and the Butler Township Police Department.

The West Hazleton Police Department, the Hazleton City Police Department and the Luzerne County Drug Task Force announce the following arrests following a narcotics investigation throughout the months of March and April in 2019:


Dawn Cragle, 43, of West Hazleton charged with 4 felony counts of Delivery of a Controlled Substance(Methamphetamine), 2 felony counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver(Fentanyl and Methamphetamine) and 4 felony counts of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.​

Brian Dickinson, 37, of West Hazleton charged with one felony count of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver(Fentanyl)

Timothy Pendergast, 25, of Hazle Township charged with one Felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance(Methamphetamine) and 1 felony count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility.

Scott Wanamaker, 42, of Weston charged with 2 counts of possession of a Controlled Substance(methamphetamine and heroin). Wanamaker also had a bench warrant issued by Schullykill County.

John Lorah, 39, of Shenandoah charged with Firearm not be carried without a license, 1 count of possession of a controlled substance(methamphetamine) and count of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Arrest warrants issued for the following:

Brittany Hinkle, 24, of McAdoo charged with 1 felony count of Delivery of a Controlled Substance and 1 felony count of Criminal Use of a Communication Facility for a delivery of methamphetamine.

Charges to be filed against the following:

Gianna Julian, 21, of Mahanoy City charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance(fentanyl), possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Christina Klick, 44, of West Hazleton charged with possession of a controlled substance(fentanyl) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Austin Calarco, 21, of West Hazleton charged with possession of a controlled substance(marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bruce Nelligan, 29, of Orrtanna charged with possession of a controlled substance(methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Details of Investigation:

Throughout March and April of 2019 Investigators conducted several controlled purchases of methamphetamine from Dawn Cragle and Brian Dickinson’s residence at 418-420 West Green Street in the borough of West Hazleton. This investigation led up to a search warrant being executed at Cragle’s residence on April 03, 2019 as well as warrants being served at the Hazleton Motor Inn Room 102 in the City of Hazleton. Just prior to the search warrant Cragle and Dickinson were taken into custody during a traffic stop where they were found to be in possession of 30.2 grams of packaged fentanyl and several grams of methamphetamine. Several grams of methamphetamine were purchased from the residence as well. Cragle would serve customers and arrange the sales to customers via telephone.

A PA borough Mayor has been hit with a defamation suit after a Facebook post that allegedly referred to a fire official as a "crackhead, adulteress, and thief".

A series of Facebook posts made on April 28th 2018 by Mayor Brenda McDaniels Long led to the defamation suit. The posts say that Shickshinny Borough Colunteer Fire Company officer Holly Morris used a loan from the fire company for gambling and other personal expenses.

The posts also suggested that Morris was cheating on her husband and that she used illegal drugs.

The suit claims that Morris suffered loss to her reputation and social standing as a result of the posts.

It’s April, and that means that Avengers: Endgame is less than a month from release. Endgame is the culmination of 11 years’ and 21 films’ worth of Marvel works, as well as the bookend to 2018’s Avengers: Infinity War, a $2 billion movie with a game-changing cliffhanger.
 
AMC is hosting a massive 59 hour 7 minute movie marathon starting with 2008′s “Iron Man” and leading to being able to watch “Avengers: Endgame” an hour before everyone else. 
 
Only three AMC locations are hosting this marathon. AMC Lincoln Square 13 (New York), AMC River East 21 (Illinois), and AMC Metreon 16 (California)
 
Will you be huinkering down for 59+ hours?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a health advisory this week to notify clinicians that influenza activity remains high in the United States.

Influenza A(H3N2), Influenza A(H1N1) viruses and influenza B viruses are all still circulating.
Influenza A(H3N2) viruses may be associated with severe disease in older adults. The CDC says antiviral treatment should be started as soon as possible after illness onset and should not wait for laboratory confirmation for hospitalized and high-risk patients, especially those 65 years and older.

​​Antiviral treatment can benefit other individuals with influenza. While current guidance focuses on antiviral treatment of those with severe illness or at high risk of complications, antiviral treatment may be prescribed for any previously healthy (non-high risk) outpatient with suspected or confirmed influenza who presents within two days after illness onset. Clinical judgment—considering the patient’s disease severity and progression, age, likelihood of influenza, and time since onset of symptoms—is important when making antiviral treatment decisions for outpatients who are not at increased risk for influenza complications.

Two women have made accusations that former Vice President Joe Biden inappropriately touched them. Lucy Flores, a former Nevada legislator, accused Mr. Biden of kissing the top of her head and smelling her hair in 2014. A second woman, Amy Lappos, accused Biden of inappropriately rubbing noses with her at a 2009 fundraiser in Greenwich, Conn. Both women clarified that the situations were not sexual.

These allegations come as polls show Scranton native Biden has a significant lead over the rest of the potential Democratic 2020 potential candidates.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Monday that the allegations of inappropriate touching against Joe Biden should not disqualify him from the 2020 race.

“No. No, I do not,” Pelosi told reporters when asked if she thinks the allegations are disqualifying.

Biden said in a statement that he did not believe he had acted inappropriately while offering “countless handshakes, hugs, expressions of affection, support and comfort” on the campaign trail or in public life.

A ribbon cutting is scheduled for Wednesday April 3rd at 2:15pm at Fritzingertown Senior Living Community at 159 South Old Turnpike Road in Drums.

The center's new Physical Therapy Department and Beauty Salon will be unveiled during the ribbon cutting ceremony held by the Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce. Open house will be held from 2pm to 3:30pm.

Around 1pm yesterday, Hazleton Police responded to a residence in the 300 block of East Diamond Avenue after hearing that a male involved in a domestic abuse simple assault the night before had returned to the home.


Officers saw the female victim of the previous night's assault standing on the South side of Diamond Avenue.  She told police that the 28 year old Angel Torres of Hazleton, the man from the previous night, was in a blue Kia parked in front of the residence.  

Officers ordered Torres out of the vehicle, at which time Torres started the vehicle and began to drive West on Diamond Avenue at a high rate of speed, ignoring Officers verbal and visual commands to stop a press release says.

Officers attempted to pursue the vehicle, but due to the high rate of speed they lost the vehicle in the area of 1st Street and Hayes Street.  

Hazleton Officers returned and further investigation revealed Torres had left the residence with a bag containing a large amount of marijuana.  While Officers were on scene, other Hazleton Officers searched the area and located the vehicle parked in front of 646 Arthur Street.  

Contact was made at the location with an uninvolved female, who said that Torres was at her apartment the day before and denied that Torres was inside the location presently.  The female consented and granted Police permission to check the apartment, at which time Torres was found hiding in the attic of the location.  

A blue backpack was located next to Torres and contained 239 grams of marijuana.  

Torres was taken into custody and charged with possession with intent, Fleeing and Eluding and several other summary traffic offensives. 

Torres was processed on the PWI charges from the events yesterday, as well as the previous evenings charges of Simple Assault and Harassment.  

Torres was also served with an Emergency PFA, arraigned, and transported to LCCF. 

"The officers quick actions, working together, tenacity and saturation of the area led to the successful arrest of Torres.”  Police Chief Jerry Speziale said on the arrest.
​