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HAZLETON — A tip from a concerned citizen helped city police thwart a possible mass shooting at two schools, conduct a daylong manhunt and make an arrest, police stated in a news release late Saturday night. Christian Earl Diehl, 28, of Hazleton, is accused of threatening the two locations and was captured within 13 hours of the tip being made.
According to the release, a citizen informed Mayor Jeff Cusat at about 8:13 a.m. Saturday which led to police intercepting a message threatening Arthur Street Elementary School Hazleton Area High School with a mass shooting, pipe bombs and a possible diversion plan.
Based on the threat, Cusat contacted Hazleton police Chief Jerry Speziale and the Command Staff of the Hazleton Police Department, who quickly mobilized in the early morning hours at police headquarters and began an investigation into the origin of the threat and to protect the public and find the individual responsible.
Luzerne County Communication Center was immediately notified by police personnel of the threat and the computer aided dispatch system was updated should there be a call for service or response required at any school facility in the area.
City police communicated and notified Hazleton Area School District Police Chief Edward Harry, who offered assistance in this matter.
Hazleton police detectives began to vet the threat and conduct interviews identifying the telephone facility and origin. Based on the preliminary investigation, Detective Sgt. D. Rodick communicated with the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office and District Judge Matthew Christopher issued an arrest warrant for Diehl, who was identified as the alleged originator of the threat.
City patrol units located Diehl at around 9:15 a.m., about 13 hours after the threat was discovered. Diehl was found driving on Sixth and Church streets where he was taken into custody and placed under arrest.
Diehl is accused of committing a third-degree felony of threat to use weapons of mass destruction.
The vehicle Diehl was operating, a Ford Mustang, was towed pending further investigation. Diehl was transported to police headquarters at pending arraignment and further investigation.
In the statement, Cusat said, “Clearly, in today’s world, a threat of this nature, must be taken seriously and thoroughly investigated, that’s why I made contact immediately.”
Speziale said, “I am proud of the teamwork displayed and the tireless efforts put forth by my entire team to ensure the public’s safety.”
Later on his Facebook page, Speziale went on to say that “the community is safe and while we had a school threat we recognized that school was not in session until Monday. We worked tirelessly to insure that we would not have any issues with the opening of the schools and a potential threat.”
“The community is safe.”
