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HAZLE TWP. — A man tried to use someone else’s identity to upgrade his cell phone service with Verizon in the Laurel Mall on Wednesday, authorities report.

Frank Kelly Pichardo, 23, of New York City, New York, was arrested after he attempted to escape capture by running into a TJ Maxx store inside the mall at about 5 p.m., troopers say.

Here are more details from State Police at Hazleton:

Pichardo identified himself as a man from Erie in an attempt to upgrade his Verizon cell phone service.

A clerk with Verizon suspected Pichardo was not the account holder, as the account was more than 15 years old. Another clerk contacted state police to report the possible fraud.

As a trooper approached the store, Pichardo ran away and was tackled inside the TJ Maxx store.

Pichardo had a driver’s license and a credit card with the Erie man’s name.

The man from Erie, who is 72, does not know Pichardo and did not permit anyone to access his Verizon account.

Pichardo was arraigned Thursday on two counts of identity theft, and one count each of forgery, false identification to law enforcement and resisting arrest. He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $30,000 bail.

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By Ed Lewis

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