Scranton Police Arrest 16-Year-Old In Cabbie’s Murder

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As Aazis Richardson walked out of the makeshift courtroom at Scranton Police Headquarters to the holding cell, he gave a simple explanation for shooting a McCarthy Flowered Cab driver twice in the back of the head early Friday morning.

“That’s what I do to people that don’t listen.”

Just hours after Vincent Darbenzio was murdered in his driver’s seat, police found the 16-year-old hiding in an attic at 1009-1011 Washburn St. with suspected blood on his pants and arrested him.

Richardson, 1011 Washburn St., Scranton, was charged with first-, second- and third-degree murder, robbery and related counts. He was sent to Lackawanna County Prison without bail. His preliminary hearing is set for May 30.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/scranton-police-arrest-16-year-old-in-cabbie-s-murder-1.1691773

Five Arrested In One Of Largest Heroin Busts Ever For Scranton Police

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A man purported to be the main supplier of heroin in the Hazleton area was arrested Thursday night, smashing his drug ring and landing the Scranton Police Department one of the largest heroin seizures in its history.

Officers from the Scranton Police Special Investigations Division, with the assistance of Lackawanna County detectives and agents from the FBI, arranged a deal between a confidential police informant and Willy Perez, 35, who officers learned was operating a heroin ring in the Scranton and Hazleton areas, police said.

Mr. Perez had several people package and deliver heroin and cocaine for him, sometimes in disguise, according to an arrest affidavit. One “runner,” known as “Mohamed,” wore Domino’s Pizza delivery uniforms as a cover when delivering the drugs.

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/five-arrested-in-one-of-largest-heroin-busts-ever-for-scranton-police-1.1574862

Police: Drunken Scranton Man Raids Stranger’s Refrigerator

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Steven Johnson had everything in place for a late-night surf and turf snack and a nightcap early Thursday morning: steak cooling on the stove, clams and shrimp in the refrigerator and bottles of coconut rum and vanilla vodka chilling in the freezer.

The 24-year-old does not live at the 339 William St. home, but his snacking did not seem to bother the couple fast asleep on the living room couch.

So, on his way out, Mr. Johnson made himself a to-go bag.

Just as Mr. Johnson walked out of the kitchen, the man on the couch, Phillip Schwartz, woke up and watched him head out the door and called the police, according to a criminal complaint filed by city police Officer Melissa Forsette.

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/police-drunken-scranton-man-raids-stranger-s-refrigerator-1.1400735