HT News

July 3, 2009

Police: Pair forced man to strip

Hazleton man says gun pressed against his head after he bought marijuana.

By Edward Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Staff Writer
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HAZLETON – A man claimed he was forced to strip naked and a gun was pressed against his head after he purchased marijuana from two other men Wednesday night, police said.

Police said they arrested Francis Fuentes, 18, and Luis Alexis Diaz, 22, both from Hazleton, in the alleged kidnapping and assault on Rashan Hunt.

Hunt, 20, of Hazleton, said the two men called friends to get a shotgun or an assault rifle to kill him, arrest records say.

Fuentes and Diaz were charged with kidnapping, unlawful restraint, robbery, simple assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, theft, receiving stolen property and several criminal conspiracy counts. They were arraigned Thursday and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail each.

According to the criminal complaints: Hunt claimed he met Fuentes and Diaz on South Pine Street to buy marijuana. They drove around in the Hazleton/Butler Township areas when Diaz received a phone call.

Hunt said the caller told Diaz that an acquaintance of Hunt’s threatened Diaz’s father and Fuentes’ younger brother. After the call, Hunt alleged, Diaz produced a handgun and pressed it against his head threatening to kill him.

Diaz and Fuentes forced Hunt to strip naked and robbed him of his marijuana and $420 at gunpoint. Hunt removed his clothes and attempted to escape but child safety locks on the doors prevented him from getting out.

While they were driving around, Hunt alleged, Fuentes and Diaz called their friends attempting to get an assault rifle or a shotgun. One of their friends told them they couldn’t have the shotgun because his mother was home, the criminal complaint says.

Hunt told police that he was released in the area of Church and Eighth streets, where he believed Fuentes and Diaz were going to kill him.

Police captured the pair shortly after obtaining warrants. Hearings are scheduled on July 8 in Central Court.

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