Two Arrested After Pursuit - 100 Heroin Bags Found

On November 4 at around 9:30pm, Hazleton Police say that Officer C. Zubris attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on a 2005 White Chevrolet Pickup Truck in the area of 2nd Street and Peace Street in the City of Hazleton.  The vehicle was being operated by 52 year old Michael A. Ubaldini of Archibald and a passenger identified as 39 year old Nicholas Hall of Hazleton.

The vehicle began to flee from the officer.  Chief J. Speziale was behind Officer Zubris and at the intersection of N. James Street and W. Oak Street the passenger Nicholas Hall bailed out of the vehicle.  Officer C. Zubris pulled to the right, exited his vehicle and immediately tackled and arrested Hall placing him in custody with the assistance of Officer M. Holguin. 

Chief J. Speziale continued with the pursuit travelling west on Broad Street onto State Route 924 South.  Corporal Keith McAlarney and Officer Scott Greene entered the pursuit on Broad Street and SR 924. 

During the pursuit, Chief J. Speziale’s Police Unit was able to get in front of Ubaldini’s vehicle on SR 924 for the safety of the traveling public and conducted a weaving maneuver slowing down Ubaldini’s vehicle to approximately 30 MPH. 

Ubaldini then jumped the center median on SR924 to evade Officer S. Green and Corporal McAlarney striking Corporal McAlareny’s patrol vehicle causing minor damage and coming to its final resting place on the roadway.  The vehicle was impounded by Paul’s Towing. 

At approximately, 9:40pm, Ubaldini was placed under arrest with the assistance of Officer T. King, J. Keller, WHPD and found in possession of approximately 100 bags of heroin at the scene and was transported to LHVH for minor injuries.

Michael Ubaldini is a fugitive from justice and wanted on a Parole Warrant and is being charged with the following:
Fleeing and Eluding
Possession of Controlled Substance
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Resisting Arrest
Numerous Traffic Violations

Nicholas Hall is being charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, (Needles-Empty Heroin Bags – Tourniquet)

Ubaldini will be transported to LCCF for overnight arraignment and Hall will be cited and charged accordingly.  ​