Police Catch Burglary In Progress, Three Arrested

Chief Speziale, Hazleton Drop The Drugs Press Conference, 2018 Hazleton News 1 stock photo

On March 23, 2018, at approximately 1:22PM, Chief Jerry Speziale was en route to a meeting when he was alerted by a local resident about a suspicious vehicle and four males in the area of N. Lee Court and West 3rd Street possibly committing a crime. 

As a result of the information, Speziale responded to the area and set up a stationary surveillance in an unmarked police vehicle.  Speziale observed a Gold, 2004 Infiniti bearing Pennsylvania registration parked on W. 3rd Street between N. Lee Court and Church Street, which was occupied by a Hispanic male. 

Speziale continued with the surveillance and then observed three Hispanic males exiting 126 W. 4th Street, the entrance facing N. Lee Court.  Immediately thereafter, three males exited the location and began walking down N. Lee Court carrying large heavy boxes containing electronics.

The males were identified as Leo Carlos Rosario, 20, Jose Serraty, 19 and Leonardo De La Cruz, 19 all whom were carrying a large amount of electronics along with other property and loading it into the 2004 Infiniti occupied by the driver identified as Ezeguiel Serraty Santiago, 26.

Speziale immediately intervened and detained the four suspects while calling for backup.  Sergeant M. Zola, Corporal G. Schaffer. Officers W. Mazur, P. Bautista, M. Houlguin and K. Crawford immediately responded and arrived on the scene and all four were taken into custody and transported to Hazleton Police Headquarters.

Three of the individuals, excluding Ezeguiel Serraty Santiago were charged with Burglary (Felony), Theft (Felony) and Receiving Stolen Property (Felony).  The vehicle was towed by Zenier’s Towing and is being held for investigation. Numerous electronics and other property were recovered.

The individuals were arraigned and transported to LCCF.