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By JOE HEALEY; Times Leader Staff Writer
Sunday, August 17, 1997 Page: 1
HAZLETON- The local chapter of the National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People is looking into the arrest of an Hazleton youth by the
mayor.
NAACP President Ron Felton of Wilkes-Barre said the family of Gyles Simmons
filed a formal complaint with his organization Monday.
Simmons, 16, of Hazleton, said Hazleton Mayor Michael Marsicano called him
“racial names” and used excessive force when he took him into custody July 30.
In published reports, Marsicano said he chased and apprehended Simmons
after he saw the teenager recklessly riding a motorcycle around town. “I’m the
mayor, and you’re under arrest,” Marsicano reportedly said he told Simmons.
Simmons said the mayor was unnecessarily rough in the encounter, wrestling
Simmons to the ground and injuring his leg. He denied the mayor’s charge that
he was ready to “take a crack” at the mayor.
Simmons did not return a call for comment about the complaint.
His sister, Jaime, who witnessed the incident, said the mayor called
Simmons a “nigger” and cursed at him.
Simmons has told a reporter the mayor called him racial names but said,
“He’ll never admit that.”
Felton said his group is looking into the incident. The complaint was filed
by Simmons and two relatives, Felton said.
Felton said he will meet with the group’s executive board and plan a
strategy.
“We’re now in the process of researching it,” Felton said. “We hope to know
something soon.”
Felton said he never heard of a situation like this.
“It’s the `Wild, Wild West’ down there in Hazleton,” Felton said.
Jay Reese of South Vine Street spoke out against the mayor at Monday
night’s City Council work session.
He said he worries taxpayers will end up footing the bill if the Simmons’
sue the mayor.
“Hazleton shouldn’t have to pay the legal bills for the mayor
misrepresenting himself as a law enforcement officer,” Reese said.
But Councilman Jake Ripa III said the incident will be covered under the
city’s blanket Errors and Omissions policy.
Simmons was charged with disorderly conduct and traffic citations. A
preliminary hearing has not yet been scheduled before District Justice Joe
Zola of Hazleton.
Zola said Simmons has 12 nontraffic citations from 1992 to 1997, including
charges of disorderly conduct, underage drinking and harassment.