Wyoming police charge suspected ‘smash and grab’ tobacco bandit

WYOMING — Surveillance footage shows suspected tobacco thief Danny Haggard using a cinder block 10 times to smash his way through a glass door equipped with metal bars at the US Gas Convenient Store on East Eighth Street last month, according to court records.

Haggard’s alleged “Smash and Grab” at the convenient store in Wyoming is one of several he is accused of committing, including stealing a vehicle from a dealership in Old Forge.

Haggard was captured by Kingston police after a pursuit that began when he allegedly forced his way inside the Convenient Store on Pierce Street and initiated a pursuit that ended in Forty Fort, where he punched an officer in the chest and genitals.

According to the latest criminal filing by Wyoming police, police responded to US Gas for a burglar alarm at 1:23 a.m. on Jan. 10, finding a smashed front glass door and a cinder block on the inside floor.

A surveillance camera recorded Haggard pulling up in a Chevrolet Cruz without license plate and using a cinder block to smash the glass door, court records say.

Haggard struck the glass door with metal bars 10 times with the cinder block before he crawled through the smashed door and stealing cartons of cigarettes before speeding away.

Less than one hour later on the same date, about 2:03 a.m., Kingston police encountered Haggard allegedly in the act of stealing cigarettes in a smash and grab from the Pierce Street Convenient Store.

Here is a list of all charges in Haggard’s alleged smash and grabs, including stealing a purse from a vehicle:

• Jan. 10, 2:03 a.m., Pierce Street, Kingston: A Kingston police officer encountered the Chevrolet Cruz parked suspiciously in front of the Convenient Mart that quickly turned into a pursuit ending in Haggard’s arrest in Forty Fort. Police in Kingston allege Haggard smashed the glass door and stole cartons of cigarettes.

• Jan. 10, 1:23 a.m., East Eighth Street, Wyoming: Arrives in a Chevrolet Cruz and used a cinder block to smash a glass door, stealing cartons of cigarettes.

• Jan. 10, Old Forge: Stole a Chevrolet Cruz from a dealership.

• Jan. 7, Main Street, Swoyersville: Used a cinder block to smash the front glass door at Convenience Mart One Stop, stealing cartons of cigarettes. Fled in a truck owned by a landscaping company suspected of being stolen from a garage in West Wyoming.

• Jan. 6, North Maple Avenue, Kingston: Stole a purse from a parked vehicle outside a school and using bank/credit cards at several stores, including the Convenient Store on Pierce Street.

• Dec. 19, Main Street, Swoyersville: Attempted to force open a window at Convenience Mart One Stop, setting off a burglar alarm. Haggard fled in a concrete truck. Haggard was formerly employed at the concrete company and was permitted to sleep in an office at the business.

• Dec. 19, Exeter Avenue, West Pittston: Used a concrete block to smash a glass door at K&S Convenient Mart, attempted to smash open an automated-teller machine before stealing cartons of cigarettes.

Incidents in which Haggard is a suspect but not yet been charged:

• Dec. 29, Sans Souci Parkway, Hanover Township: Smashed the glass door the Fast Lane service station and stole cartons of cigarettes.

• Dec. 29, Route 11, Plymouth Township: Smashed a glass door at Food Express and stole cartons of cigarettes.

Wyoming police charged Haggard with burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property. He was arraigned Monday by District Judge Michael G. Dotzel of Wilkes-Barre Township. Haggard is facing numerous burglary related charges in Luzerne County Court.