Hazleton Man Jailed After Found In Attic After Vehicle Pursuit, Assault

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.
​