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Monday, January 24, 2000 Page: 2A
W-B police and state Attorney General’s Office seek direction in the case,
says police chief, while they await more evidence. Wilkes-Barre police and the
state Office of Attorney General tentatively are scheduled to meet this week
and discuss a car crash involving a vehicle owned by for mer county Sheriff
Carl Zawatski, according to city Police Chief William Barrett.
On Sunday, Barrett said the meeting is expected to give investigators
direction in resolving the case after reviewing documents and photos related
to the Oct. 22 crash on North Washington Street.
Barrett said some evidence, like hair samples and other evidence that
requires testing, are not tested yet and remain at a state police lab.
Police retrieved hair and suspected blood samples from inside the 1996
Monte Carlo, according to an inventory of seized property.
Police took the samples after executing a search warrant. The warrant was
needed because Zawatski refused to allow a search of his car.
Items taken from the car, according to the search warrant inventory sheet,
include: hair samples from the driver’s side, passenger’s side, and center
roof canopy area; both driver and passenger sun visors; and the driver’s side
air bag and passenger-side air bag.
The sheriff had told city police he was driving when he swerved to avoid a
dog and struck the pole on North Washington Street.
Police started an investigation after receiving tips that the sheriff’s
daughter, Heather Zawatski, might have been driving at the time of the 2 a.m.
crash and was seen drinking earlier at a nearby bar.
The meeting initially was scheduled for last week but had to be
rescheduled, Barrett said. He did not know what day investigators will meet.