HT News

June 12, 2009

Man charged with firing shotgun in Hazleton

City police allege Hazle Twp. man shot at three men sitting on a porch. They were not hit.

HAZLETON – City police charged two teens in connection with a shooting Wednesday night in a heavily populated neighborhood.

Michael S. Scarlato, 18, of Ash Court, Hazle Township, allegedly fired a shotgun at three men in the area of 17th and Locust streets while children were playing on the sidewalks.

Kayla C. Fisher, 18, of East Chestnut Street, Hazleton, also has been charged, police said.

Nobody was injured in the late-night shooting, police said.

Police said Scarlato got out of his Chevrolet Impala and shot at David Stiegelbauer, Edwin Batistia and Matthew Genery and struck the front porches of two occupied homes at 844 and 840 N. Locust St. at 9:43 p.m.

According to arrest papers, Stiegelbauer, Batistia and Genery told police they were sitting at a porch at 844 N. Locust St. when they saw the Impala stop out in front. Fisher, a passenger in Scarlato’s vehicle, got out of the car and told the victims, “Do you know who you’re messing with? I got something for you.”

Police said Scarlato got out of the car with a 12-gauge shotgun, fired at the men and sped away.

He was stopped by West Hazleton police. A Hawk pump action model shotgun and shotgun shells were recovered inside Scarlato’s vehicle, police said.

Scarlato was arraigned Thursday morning and charged with six counts of aggravated assault, three counts each of terroristic threats and reckless endangerment and one count each of fleeing or attempting to elude police and possessing instruments of crime, court records show.

Police also charged him with firearms violations, including being a former convict not allowed to own a firearm, and traffic offenses.

Fisher was charged with six counts of criminal conspiracy and terroristic threats.

Scarlato and Fisher were jailed at the county prison for lack of $50,000 and $25,000 bail, respectively. Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for June 18 in Central Court.

Jen Marckini, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7210.

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