Police: Man misuses 911, threatens suspects from a previous incident
A Scranton man is facing charges after police say he called the Lackawanna County Communications Center four times, rambling about a previous incident, using racial slurs and threatening to 'mow down' those involved.
Steven Sudnick, 54, of 1614 Dickson Ave., is charged with repeatedly calling 911 for reasons other than an emergency.
According to the criminal complaint:
At about 5 a.m. on Tuesday, Scranton police Officer Timothy Merkel responded to the report of an intoxicated male repeatedly calling emergency dispatch from 1614 Dickson Ave.
Several members of the Scranton Police Department patrol division, including Merkel, staged near the residence, and Cpl. Justin Butler made phone contact with Sudnick, ordering him out of the house. Officers were aware that Sudnick was involved in a previous incident at the same location.
Police spotted Sudnick on the porch with a cellphone. Merkel ordered him to get off the porch and show his hands. As Sudnick was walking toward police with his hands in the air, he was swaying and had trouble maintaining his balance.
Officers smelled alcohol on his breath, and his speech was slurred, police said.
Dispatchers told police Sudnick called the emergency line 'rambling on' about a previous incident and using racial slurs about the suspects involved in that incident.
He told dispatchers he would 'mow them down' with his AR rifle, referring to the suspects. After his first phone call, dispatchers told Sudnick they would have an officer call him.
Patrolman Anthony Russo called Sudnick on the phone, but Sudnick wasn't satisfied with the call and called 911 several more times. Dispatchers warned Sudnick to stop calling because he was misusing the 911 system and disconnected the phone call.
A short time later, he called back. Dispatchers told Sudnick that officers were on their way to his home.
Sudnick remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:45 a.m. on April 7 before District Judge Kipp Adcock.
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