Monday, October 23, 2017

Police Investigating an Attempted Homicide Incident that Started in Luzerne County and Ended in Lebanon County


Police are investigating an attempted homicide incident that began in Luzerne County and ended in Lebanon County.

On Friday, 10/20/17 around 2:45pm, the Pennsylvania State Police at Jonestown was dispatched to 150 East Main Street, Bethel Township, Lebanon County to investigate an Attempted Homicide Incident.

Upon arrival Troopers found the victim, a 64 Year old male from Luzerne County, in the trunk of his vehicle with blunt force trauma to his head. The victim was taken to the hospital for his injuries and is listed in critical condition.

Upon further investigation, it was discovered that the victim met Bradley Butler, 42, of Scranton, in Luzerne County. The victim attempted to be a good Samaritan and offered Butler a ride.

When the victim drove Butler home to his residence, Butler saw police cars at his residence and got nervous since he had an active arrest warrant for Retail Theft.

Butler then had the victim drive him to a remote area where he then physically assaulted the victim in his vehicle, and force him into the backseat of the vehicle and started to drive the victim’s vehicle.

Butler was then involved in a hit and run crash with a white construction van, somewhere in Luzerne County.

Butler then pulled the vehicle over and made the victim exit the vehicle where he then brutally assaulted him again and placed the unconscious victim in the trunk of his vehicle.

Butler drove the victim nearly 100 miles from the location until the victim’s vehicle became disabled on I-78 in Lebanon County.

Butler then called for a tow for the victim’s vehicle and called police to report the incident.

Butler was taken into custody, charges pending while the incident is still under investigation.

Anyone with any information regarding the Hit and Run Crash should call the Pennsylvania State Police at Jonestown 717-865-2194.