07-04-2025
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.
