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HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf today ordered the Commonwealth flag in the Capitol Complex and at Commonwealth facilities in Lackawanna County lowered to half-staff in honor of fallen Scranton Police Officer John Wilding.
“Today, we lower the Commonwealth flag to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by Officer Wilding. I invite all Pennsylvanians to participate in this tribute to pay respect to a fallen hero,” Wolf said in a news release.
The Commonwealth flag shall remain lowered until sunset on the day of Wilding’s interment.
Wilding died on Sunday as a result of injuries sustained in the line of duty. Scranton police and Pennsylvania State Police were investigating an attempted armed robbery that took place about 3:30 a.m. Saturday in West Scranton. Police say that Wilding was in pursuit of three juveniles that attempted to rob a Scranton man with a shotgun in 1300 block of Jackson Street.
While in pursuit of the suspects, Wilding reportedly leaped over a wall and fell 15 feet feet in the dark.
According to the department’s official Facebook page, Nasir Jones, Tanner Curtis and Isiah Edwards, all 17, were formally charged after leading Scranton police officers on a chase that ended around North Main Avenue.