Latest news with #ScrantonPoliceStreetCrimesUnit
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Oklahoma man intended to trade meth for sex
An Oklahoma man faces felony and other charges after a drug sting during which he intended to trade drugs for sex, according to a criminal complaint. Officers from Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit launched an investigation Tuesday into suspected prostitution and illegal drug sales in Scranton, according to the complaint. Investigators monitored illicit activity on a website geared toward facilitating prostitution and drug activity, which allows users to post advertisements containing explicit descriptions and images related to sexual services they're willing to provide, along with information about payment methods and meet locations, the complaint states. As part of the operation, an undercover officer posed as a 30-year-old female prostitute and was contacted by Jeffrey Paul Rodgers, 56, who agreed to meet at an agreed-upon location. Rodgers provided the undercover officer with photos of himself seated in a single-cabin pickup truck. He said he would provide crystal methamphetamine in exchange for sex, the complaint states. Rodgers requested the undercover officer contact him by phone, instead of on the website, and the two transitioned their conversation to text messages. He arrived at the agreed-upon location on foot and was arrested by city police. Rodgers admitted he intended to trade methamphetamine for sex, according to the complaint. He told officers he was from Oklahoma but was in the area for work. Officers searched Rodgers' bag and found 15 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 36 grams of marijuana, a glass pipe and $128 in cash. Rodgers told officers he had arrived in his work truck and that there was additional meth in that vehicle but would not provide officers with its location. After transporting him to Scranton police headquarters, officers located a Chevrolet Silverado registered to someone with the same last name parked two blocks away in the 1000 block of Jackson Street. Rodgers is charged with possession with intent to deliver, criminal attempt and criminal use of a cellphone. He remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. May 15 before District Judge Laura Turlip.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Wanted Scranton man crashes into patrol vehicle
A wanted Scranton man faces additional charges after police said he drove his car into a patrol vehicle during an undercover drug sting in the city Thursday. As members of the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit, Lackawanna County Detective Drug Unit and Pennsylvania State Police Troop R Vice Unit were monitoring social media platforms, they noticed Ezequiel Soto advertising the sale of marijuana on his account, officers said. Investigators were also aware Soto had an active arrest warrant issued by Scranton police for theft, according to a criminal complaint. Soto (Courtesy Lackawanna County Central Processing) Investigators contacted Soto using an undercover social media account and initiated a conversation, eventually arranging to meet up to purchase marijuana from him for $70, police said. Around 7 p.m., investigators observed a blue Volkswagen Jetta enter a parking lot with Soto in the driver's seat, officers said. Officers positioned their vehicles behind and aside Soto's and he attempted to exit the area by going in reverse, nearly striking an officer's vehicle before shifting into drive and accelerating, striking the front end of a detective's vehicle, police said. Investigators then removed Soto and a passenger — identified as Cesar Diaz — from the car and detained both, according to the criminal complaint. Diaz faces charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Investigators found approximately 14 grams of marijuana inside Soto's car, police said. Then, during a search of Soto's residence on the 500 block of Emmett Street, they found a large bag containing approximately 148 grams of marijuana on the bedroom floor, approximately 42 grams in the dresser area, plastic bags used for packaging narcotics and a digital scale with marijuana residue, police said. Police charged Soto, 20, with aggravated assault, possession with intent to deliver, criminal use of a communication facility and related counts. As of Monday, Soto remained at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 1 at 9 a.m.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Yahoo
Dickson City man charged in drugs-for-sex sting
SCRANTON — A Dickson City man faces charges after he arranged to exchange methamphetamine for sexual services, police said. On Monday, officers from the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit launched an investigation into suspected drug and prostitution activities within Scranton, according to a criminal complaint. As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers monitored activity on a website used to facilitate prostitution, which allows users to advertise using explicit descriptions and images of available sexual services, as well as payment methods and locations. As part of the sting, an undercover officer posed as a 30-year-old female and was contacted by Zachary Davitt, 30, who agreed to meet at a designated location to exchange crystal methamphetamine in exchange for sexual activity. Davitt, of 435 Main St., provided the undercover agent with a photo of himself and a phone number, indicating he wanted the undercover agent, whom he believed to be a prostitute, to call him. Officers set up surveillance in the area where Davitt was to meet the confidential informant. A short time later, he arrived at the location via Uber. As he was walking to the door of the agreed-upon meeting location, he was arrested. He admitted he intended to trade meth for sex and told officers the drug was in his pocket. Officers searched Davitt and a book bag he was carrying and found a plastic container holding a gram of crystal meth, a plastic bag containing 0.5 grams of meth, a clear glass pipe containing meth, a black iPhone used to call the informant, two condoms and cash. Investigators called the phone number used to facilitate the transaction and Davitt's iPhone rang. He is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, use of a cellphone to facilitate criminal activity and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remains at the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. on April 24 before District Judge Christopher J. Szewczyk.
Yahoo
07-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Wanted Scranton man fled to roof to avoid capture
A wanted Scranton man faces charges after fleeing to the roof of his residence to avoid capture, police said. On Friday, members of the the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Apprehension Task Force and Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit responded to the 1600 block of Jackson Street as Jonathan Cardona had active warrants for failure to appear on fleeing and eluding charges from the Pennsylvania State Police — issued in September — and Pennsylvania State Parole for a parole violation on charges of possession with intent to deliver — issued in November — according to a criminal complaint. Around 6:30 a.m., law enforcement officials knocked on the door and saw Cardona looking out a second-story window, police said. Investigators entered the residence and ordered Cardona to surrender, but he eventually exited the residence and was spotted on the roof, officers said. Officers ordered Cardona to go back inside, but he ripped a cable off a nearby roof, first appearing to use it to swing down from the roof, and then wrapping it around his neck and demanding to speak with his family, police said. While on the roof, Cardona admitted knowing about his warrants and told officers he didn't want to go back to jail, according to the criminal complaint. After about 30 minutes, Cardona went back inside his bedroom through a window to meet investigators and was taken into custody, officers said. He told officers he was mentally stable and not injured, police said. Investigators found a glass container with marijuana inside Cardona's room, police said. He admitted having marijuana in the room as well as Tramadol pills, a pain reliever, which were not prescribed to him, officers said. After obtaining a search warrant for Cardona's room, investigators found a pill bottle with 30 Tramadol pills, $1,000 in cash, two iPhones, a digital scale, packaging materials, the glass container with approximately 10 grams of marijuana, and several smoked marijuana cigarettes, police said. Police charged Cardona, 34, with flight to avoid apprehension, possession with intent to deliver, resisting arrest and related charges. As of Monday, Cardona remained in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 17 at 9 a.m.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
Police: Alleged gang member and father face drug charges in Scranton
SCRANTON — A father and son are facing felony charges after law enforcement officials raided their Theodore Street residence Tuesday. Caesar Alexza Agosto, 18, of 622 Theodore St., Scranton, an alleged gang member, is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of marijuana. Caesar Agosto, 45, also of 622 Theodore St., faces the same charges. According to the criminal complaint: On Tuesday, members of the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit, the Lackawanna County Detective Drug Unit, the Pennsylvania State Police Troop R Vice Unit and the state attorney general's office executed a search warrant at the Agostos' residence. As they approached the residence, they saw the younger Agosto leaving the building and walking toward his vehicle. Officers intercepted, arrested and searched him, finding a THC vaporizer and an iPhone. At that point, he indicated he wanted to speak with an attorney. During their search of the residence, investigators found an ashtray filled with partially smoked marijuana cigarettes, a small bag containing marijuana and a marijuana grinder in the basement of the house. Investigators then requested a second search warrant, and while they were waiting for it to be approved, spoke with Kelly Agosto, the younger Caesar Agosto's mother. She admitted there was marijuana inside the residence. She told investigators her husband had a medical marijuana card, but her son did not. She said her son was the only family member who regularly spent time in the basement. But, when the elder Agosto returned to the residence, he said marijuana found in the basement belonged to him and provided a valid medical marijuana card. Investigators then resumed the search and found 2 grams of marijuana and $210 in cash in the younger Agosto's bedroom. They also found a plastic bag containing 27 grams of marijuana, two digital scales, two metal grinders and packing material in the basement. During a search of the master bedroom, investigators found a digital scale with cocaine residue on the vanity and a small baggie containing 18 grams of cocaine in the elder Agosto's jacket pockets, as well as a container holding THC wax on his nightstand. Both men have preliminary hearings scheduled for 9:45 a.m. on April 10 before Sean McGraw.
