News

June 11, 2009

Arrests in Hazleton shooting

By Ed Lewis elewis@timesleader.com
Times Leader Staff Writer
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HAZLETON - Two people were charged by police Thursday morning in connection to a shooting in the area of 17th and Locust streets.

Police alleged Michael Samuel Scarlato, 18, of Ashe Court, Hazle Township, got out of a vehicle and fired a shotgun nearly striking three people at about 9:43 p.m. Wednesday.

Scarlato was charged with six counts of aggravated assault, three counts each of terroristic threats and reckless endangerment, and one count each of former convict not to own a firearm, discharge of firearm into occupied structure, fleeing or attempting to elude police, possessing instruments of crime and three traffic offenses.

Kayla Chelsea Fisher, 18, of East Chestnut Street, Hazleton, was charged with six counts of criminal conspiracy and three counts of terroristic threats.

Scarllato was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $50,000 bail, and Fisher was jailed for lack of $25,000 bail.

According to the criminal complaints:

David Stiegelbauer, Edwin Batistia and Matthew Genery told police they were sitting on the porch at 844 S. Locust St. when they observed a dark colored Chevrolet Impala stop in front of the residence.

Fisher, a passenger, exited the vehicle and told the three men, "Do you know who your messing with; I got something for you," the criminal complaints say.

Scarlato, the driver, got out of the vehicle with a shotgun and, according to the criminal complaints,  fired a round toward Stiegelbauer, Batistia and Genery.

Police said there were children playing in the area.

Scarlato sped away and was stopped by West Hazleton police.

Police alleged they recovered 12-gauge shotgun, and shotgun shells inside the vehicle.

Preliminary hearings are tentatively scheduled on June 18 in Central Court.

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