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HANOVER TWP. — A man wanted on charges he assaulted a woman and shoved a man from a wheelchair last month was captured when township police found him hiding inside a residence early Tuesday morning.
Police said Darius Michael Rodriguez, 26, was captured when officers responded to 15 Little St. for a domestic disturbance just before 1 a.m.
Officers were aware Rodriguez frequented the residence and was wanted by Wilkes-Barre police.
When officers arrived, Krista Amrowski claimed she was not in distress and denied Rodriguez was inside the residence. She told officers Rodriguez ran out the back door, according to court records.
Amrowski permitted officers to search the residence finding Rodriguez hiding among bags and other storage items. Rodriguez refused to show his hands and was stunned by a Taser when he reached toward the storage items, court records say.
In a related issue, city police obtained an arrest warrant for Rodriguez on Aug. 5 after he jumped on a woman and shoved a man from a wheelchair at Barney and Division streets on Aug. 2.
Police said a woman reported she was driving with Rodriguez when he suddenly pulled the emergency brake on her Toyota Rav4 during an argument. Rodriguez got out, began to walk away and jumped on the windshield causing damage, court records say.
She told police Rodriguez crawled to the top of the Toyota and allegedly jumped on the woman who exited the vehicle. A man in a wheelchair told Rodriguez to stop, causing Rodriguez to grab the man and toss him to the ground, according to court records.
Rodriguez was arraigned by District Judge Joseph Carmody in Luzerne County Central Court on two criminal complaints.
Township police charged Rodriguez with flight to avoid apprehension and resisting arrest, and city police charged Rodriguez with two counts each of simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment and one count each of disorderly conduct and criminal mischief.
Rodriguez was released on $15,000 unsecured bail.