WANTED: Police Searching For Shooting Suspect - Group Violence Initiator

​The Hazleton Police Department continues to aggressively investigate the “Shootings” that occurred in the City last month, according to a press release.

Since the shootings, the department has utilized conventional and unconventional investigative and enforcement strategies to combat the violence and target those responsible.  

Group leaders have been warned of the serious consequences under a group violence intervention program.  Since the shootings, last month, firearms believed to be related to the shootings have been confiscated, Christopher Paniagua was arrested and charged on September 6, 2019 for the July 23, 2019 shooting on Laurel Street, associates of the groups have been aggressively focused on by the department and a comprehensive plan and strategy are in place.  

More recently, the Hazleton Police Department under the Patrol Division has established a Cease-fire, plainclothes detail that focuses on group violence, associates, persons of interest and increased pressure and saturation citywide, in conjunction with the Patrol Division, which will continue to intensify.  


Presently, the Hazleton Police Department is actively searching for 21 year old Kevin POLANCO-PEREZ, of Hazleton, who’s wanted by the department on a Fugitive Warrant for the non-fatal shooting of a male at the Altmiller Playground on May 24, 2019, which the department believes to have sparked off the violent retaliatory shootings.  


Kevin Polanco Perez is wanted, considered armed and dangerous and is charged with Aggravated Assault (2) Counts, Simple Assault (2) Counts, Recklessly Endangering Another (1) Count. 


Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Kevin POLANCO-PEREZ is asked to call 911, the Hazleton Police Detective Division at 570-501-7218, submit a web tip at www.hazletonpolice.com or "text for tips" by texting the word mytips to 274637 from any cellular telephone.  All calls are confidential.