According to court documents filed by the Pennsylvania State Police from Frackville, Salvatore Alfonso Mazza, 47, of Pottsville, has been charged in connection with an incident that occurred on December 27, 2025.
Mazza is charged with Terroristic Threats (M1), Simple Assault (M2), Disorderly Conduct (M3 and summary), and Harassment (M3 and summary).
Axe Allegedly Waved During Road Rage Incident
According to the affidavit of probable cause, State Police were dispatched around 3:43 p.m. on December 27 to the area of North Balliet and Catawissa streets in Frackville Borough for a reported road rage incident.
Police said the victim reported that a man later identified as Mazza was waving an axe out the window of a white Kia SUV while traveling north on Route 61 just north of Saint Clair.
The victim told police the SUV approached her vehicle aggressively from behind. She said she slowed down to approximately 35 mph because she felt the driver was following too closely. According to the affidavit, she reported that the driver began waving an axe out the window and continued doing so while traveling north on Route 61.
The victim stated that at one point the SUV passed her vehicle, allowing her to obtain what she believed to be the registration plate number.
Confrontation at Frackville Intersection
The incident escalated when both vehicles entered Frackville Borough. Police said the victim stopped at a red light at North Lehigh Avenue and Spring Street when the SUV pulled up behind her.
According to the affidavit, Mazza allegedly exited the vehicle holding the axe in the air and began walking toward the victim’s vehicle. The victim told police she proceeded through the intersection to avoid further confrontation.
She described the suspect as a white male, approximately six feet tall with a “chunky build,” dark hair, glasses, and possibly facial hair. She also reported a blonde-haired female passenger in the SUV.
Investigation Leads to Identification
Troopers initially checked the registration number provided by the victim but found it did not match the vehicle involved. Through wildcard searches of similar registration combinations, police identified a white Kia Sorento bearing a similar Pennsylvania registration.
According to the affidavit, the vehicle was frequently detected by Axon and Flock camera systems in the area of Laurel Terrace Apartments in Pottsville.
Police contacted the Pottsville Housing Authority and identified Mazza as a tenant at Laurel Terrace. A query of his driver’s license photo reportedly matched the description provided by the victim.
The registered owner of the Kia Sorento, identified in court documents as Donna Oakum, told police she owns the vehicle and allows her daughter’s boyfriend, identified as Mazza, to drive it. Oakum also told police that the victim is her sister and that both she and Mazza were present at a family gathering following the incident.
According to the affidavit, the victim later positively identified Mazza as the man who waved the axe and approached her vehicle. Police said Mazza allegedly attempted to apologize to the victim during the gathering.
Based on the investigation, troopers filed charges against Mazza.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 11 before Magisterial District Judge Edward Tarantelli.