News

Local man charged with drug violations

July 13, 2008

Dog killed in Kingston raid

JEN MARCKINI jmarckini@timesleader.com

KINGSTON – Police shot and killed a dog in a backyard of a yellow two-story home on Pulaski Street early Saturday morning in order to arrest 37-year-old Eugene Simmons Jr. on a string of drug charges.

Authorities were there to raid 37-39 Pulaski St. on a search warrant.

But, knowing children were inside, along with guns, the officers waited for Simmons to come outside first.

As Simmons left the rear of his home, so did his large gray dog.

The dog, according to police, became aggressive toward one of the police officers. The officer who was attacked fired two rounds. One round missed. Police said the dog got back up and attacked again.

A second officer fired twice. Those rounds hit and killed the dog.

The officer, whose name was not released, was treated at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

Neighbors watched cautiously as members of the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and Kingston police arrested Simmons and brought three adult women and five children out of the home.

The women and children stayed on the green carpeted porch as police continued their investigation in the home close to Pringle Street Elementary School.

Simmons was charged with delivery of marijuana, possession with intent to deliver the drug, along with criminal use of a communication facility, a cell phone police said was used to set up the alleged drug deals.

There was a drug buy on Friday by an undercover informant as Simmons agreed to sell marijuana, according to the affidavit.

Authorities said they seized eight, one-ounce bags of marijuana packaged for sale, two 40 caliber, 9 mm handguns, which were in close proximity to the illegal drugs, hundreds of dollars in cash, hundreds of baggies for packaging, two scales and other packaging materials.

Simmons was arraigned before District Judge James Tupper, Kingston Township, who set a $5,000 straight bail.

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