Emoni Zariah Cruz, 18, of Mahanoy City, has been charged by Mahanoy City Police with hindering apprehension or prosecution by providing false information to law enforcement, a second-degree misdemeanor, and corruption of minors, a first-degree misdemeanor. The charges stem from an incident on July 20.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Mahanoy City Police responded to the Mahanoy Area School District campus after receiving information that a 17-year-old male with an active Schuylkill County Juvenile Probation bench warrant was inside the weight room at the Field House.
Police said officers located the juvenile and informed him he was under arrest. Investigators allege the juvenile initially complied before suddenly pulling away from officers and fleeing on foot through the school complex, over a chain-link fence, and into a wooded area and nearby creek.
Officers from multiple departments, including the Shenandoah Borough and Union Township police departments, joined the search.
During the investigation, police learned the fugitive was believed to be receiving assistance from his girlfriend, identified as Cruz, who lives on East Centre Street in Mahanoy City.
According to court documents, officers later observed the wanted juvenile sitting in the rear seat of a silver Ford station wagon near North 12th and East Market streets. Police said the juvenile fled on foot once an officer approached, jumping fences into the backyard of a residence in the 1200 block of East Centre Street.
Investigators then made contact with Cruz outside her residence. Police allege she initially denied recently seeing the juvenile but later admitted she had seen him inside the vehicle shortly before he fled.
The affidavit states officers informed Cruz that helping or harboring a fugitive or providing false information about his whereabouts could result in criminal charges. Police said Cruz claimed she did not know the juvenile was wanted and stated she had been unable to contact him because her cell phone was not active.
Police were given consent to search Cruz's residence but did not locate the fugitive.
Later, after additional information from Schuylkill County Communications Center, officers continued searching the area and eventually apprehended the juvenile hiding behind a residence in the 1300 block of East Mahanoy Street, according to the affidavit.
Following the juvenile's capture, police allege Cruz admitted she had known about the active bench warrant but claimed she believed it had been withdrawn after speaking with a juvenile probation officer. Investigators determined that information was inaccurate and subsequently placed Cruz under arrest on charges of hindering apprehension. Police also charged her with corruption of minors for allegedly aiding the juvenile while he was attempting to evade law enforcement.
Court records show Cruz was issued a summons on July 27 and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker on August 27..