According to Hazleton Police, on February 8, 2020, at approximately 1:53 AM, Hazleton Police Officers were in the area of Cedar and Holly Streets when they heard heavy acceleration and observed a Dodge truck traveling at a very high rate of speed.
The Officer J. Leonard in a Marked Patrol Vehicle activated the emergency lights to initiate a motor vehicle stop on a 2007 Dodge Ram with PA Registration. The vehicle immediately disregarded and travelled through a steady red traffic light at the intersection of North Poplar and East Broad Streets while accelerating and fleeing south on Poplar Street.
Officer Leonard called the location into Luzerne County Communications and additional units responded to assist and stop the vehicle.
Officer E. Hernandez was in the area of Poplar Street and tried to slow the vehicle down by placing his lights on in front of the vehicle. The vehicle accelerated and almost stuck Hernandez and his vehicle as the vehicle continued to flee west on SR424. Hernandez was forced to make a quick evasive action in order to avoid being struck by the Dodge.
The Dodge continued at a high rate of speed West on Route 424 and after passing the intersection of Route 309, the vehicle attempted to make a right hand turn, and travel north on the on ramp to enter Interstate 81. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and collided with a barrier and the impact caused the Dodge Ram truck to completely turn around when the vehicle accelerated and headed directly at Officer Leonard in Hazleton Patrol Unit #17.
Officer Leonard had to make an evasive maneuver in order to avoid collision, but the truck collided with Officer Leonard’s Patrol vehicle in the front end.
The Dodge truck then continued West onto Interstate 81 South being followed by Officer Hernandez and Leonard.
The officers followed the vehicle where it exited on the ramp to McAdoo and Tamaqua, when the fleeing truck collided with a sign and travelled into a ditch rolling over and eventually coming to its final place of rest on its roof.
One of the males were outside the vehicle, while the other was trapped inside. The male outside, after investigation, was identified as Isaias Garcia, 37 years of age.
While attempting to take Garcia into custody, he resisted arrest and force had to be used in order to overcome Garcia, when Officer Hernandez deployed a Taser. After a brief struggle, he was taken into custody.
McAdoo Fire Department responded to the scene and had to extricate the other individual out of the vehicle identified as Omar Vargas, 28 years of age.
The Officers located $676 in US Currency and a small amount of suspected marijuana inside the vehicle.
The Officer J. Leonard in a Marked Patrol Vehicle activated the emergency lights to initiate a motor vehicle stop on a 2007 Dodge Ram with PA Registration. The vehicle immediately disregarded and travelled through a steady red traffic light at the intersection of North Poplar and East Broad Streets while accelerating and fleeing south on Poplar Street.
Officer Leonard called the location into Luzerne County Communications and additional units responded to assist and stop the vehicle.
Officer E. Hernandez was in the area of Poplar Street and tried to slow the vehicle down by placing his lights on in front of the vehicle. The vehicle accelerated and almost stuck Hernandez and his vehicle as the vehicle continued to flee west on SR424. Hernandez was forced to make a quick evasive action in order to avoid being struck by the Dodge.
The Dodge continued at a high rate of speed West on Route 424 and after passing the intersection of Route 309, the vehicle attempted to make a right hand turn, and travel north on the on ramp to enter Interstate 81. The vehicle was traveling at a high rate of speed and collided with a barrier and the impact caused the Dodge Ram truck to completely turn around when the vehicle accelerated and headed directly at Officer Leonard in Hazleton Patrol Unit #17.
Officer Leonard had to make an evasive maneuver in order to avoid collision, but the truck collided with Officer Leonard’s Patrol vehicle in the front end.
The Dodge truck then continued West onto Interstate 81 South being followed by Officer Hernandez and Leonard.
The officers followed the vehicle where it exited on the ramp to McAdoo and Tamaqua, when the fleeing truck collided with a sign and travelled into a ditch rolling over and eventually coming to its final place of rest on its roof.
One of the males were outside the vehicle, while the other was trapped inside. The male outside, after investigation, was identified as Isaias Garcia, 37 years of age.
While attempting to take Garcia into custody, he resisted arrest and force had to be used in order to overcome Garcia, when Officer Hernandez deployed a Taser. After a brief struggle, he was taken into custody.
McAdoo Fire Department responded to the scene and had to extricate the other individual out of the vehicle identified as Omar Vargas, 28 years of age.
The Officers located $676 in US Currency and a small amount of suspected marijuana inside the vehicle.
Both individuals were transported by EMS to LVHH to be treated. Garcia was eventually taken to an area trauma center.
Vargas was eventually released and taken into custody and transported back to HPD. Contact was made with Luzerne County DA’s Office and both individuals were charged with Conspiracy, (4) Counts of Aggravated Assault, (2) Counts of Simple Assault, (2) Counts of Recklessly Endangering Another, Fleeing and Eluding, DUI, Accidents Involving Damage to Attended Vehicle, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia, Duty to Stop and Render Aid, Careless Driving, Reckless Driving, (2) Counts of Traffic Control Signals.
Both males are to be charged with Criminal Conspiracy and all Offenses.
Vargas was eventually released and taken into custody and transported back to HPD. Contact was made with Luzerne County DA’s Office and both individuals were charged with Conspiracy, (4) Counts of Aggravated Assault, (2) Counts of Simple Assault, (2) Counts of Recklessly Endangering Another, Fleeing and Eluding, DUI, Accidents Involving Damage to Attended Vehicle, Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Paraphernalia, Duty to Stop and Render Aid, Careless Driving, Reckless Driving, (2) Counts of Traffic Control Signals.
Both males are to be charged with Criminal Conspiracy and all Offenses.