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HAZLETON — A suspected porch pirate led police in a pursuit through the city that ended in a crash after snatching a package, Hazleton police Chief Jerry Speziale said Saturday.
According to Speziale in a news release, at about 4:09 p.m. Saturday, a city police officer on patrol saw the passenger of a Honda Odyssey allegedly take a delivery package from the porch of a residence on Hemlock Street at Cedar Street.
The officer began to follow the vehicle, which was occupied by a male driver and a male passenger when the officer attempted to conduct a motor vehicle stop on the vehicle.
The vehicle stopped briefly and then took off at a high rate of speed, traveling in the wrong direction on Sybert Street until it crashed into a parked, unattended vehicle and then struck a utility pole at 23rd and Sybert streets.
Both males exited the vehicle and began to flee on foot with city officers and an off-duty sergeant followed into the wooded area behind the homes. Units from West Hazleton, Butler Township and state police assisted with the pursuit.
State police closed off the area of the mountain from Route 940 to the crash scene while the search continued.
By 4:40 p.m., a city police officer captured the male passenger on the top of the mountain who was identified as Jose Arism Lopez, 40, of Hazleton. Lopez was wanted as a fugitive from justice in Schuylkill County for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and Luzerne County for drug charges.
A detective lieutenant with the Hazleton Detective Division is investigating the alleged package theft and identity of the driver.
A city officer suffered an injury during the foot pursuit and was checked out at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton. His injuries were not life-threatening.
Lopez will be taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, Wilkes-Barre, for lodging as the investigation continues. The driver of the Odyssey has yet to be captured.
