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WEST PITTSTON — A man is facing a slew of charges after he allegedly pointed a shotgun at officers and resisted arrest when they tried to take him into custody.
Leon Parker, 57, is facing charges after the incident, including assault of a law enforcement officer.
Police also allege Parker was wearing only underwear at the time of the incident.
According to the criminal complaint:
Police were dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of Wisner Street at 11:25 p.m. on Monday for a report of a domestic situation. Two officers arrived on the scene and heard yelling and screaming, along with a door slamming in the front of the residence.
An officer knocked on the front door repeatedly before he heard a woman yelling, “Put it down, put it down.” Both officers continued to knock on the front door until it opened, and one of the officers shined his light inside to find Parker allegedly holding a shotgun and pointing it at the officers’ heads.
The responding officers immediately took cover, and Parker allegedly exited the residence “in an aggressive manner.”
Police said Parker did not have the shotgun when he exited the residence, but allegedly began yelling, “Shoot me, shoot me, come (expletive) kill me.”
Officers grabbed Parker to arrest him, but he allegedly continued to fight until he was placed under arrest.
Police then spoke with a woman at the residence who identified herself as Parker’s fiancée. She said Parker received a call from the Pocono Mountain Regional Police about a case in which he is involved. She added that Parker became upset about the department’s decision to close the case, and he allegedly “began to scream and flip out.” The woman then alleged Parker obtained the shotgun from the couple’s bedroom and carried it downstairs “because he figured they could send the police.”
The woman allegedly pleaded with Parker to put the gun down, but he refused. She also told police Parker was “in a rage” and not in his right state of mind.
Police obtained the shotgun, described as a 12-gauge Mossberg, and allege it was loaded.
Parker was transported to the West Pittston Police Station for processing. While at the station, he allegedly admitted to having his weapon aimed at officers.
“I could (sic) blew your head off but I didn’t,” Parker allegedly said. “I had the gun pointed at you for 10 minutes, and you were the wrong guy and I didn’t feel like killing an innocent person.”
Parker then requested a medical evaluation and was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley.
Parker is charged with two counts each of attempted aggravated assault, assault of a law enforcement officer, aggravated assault and recklessly endangering another person, along with one charge each of possessing an instrument of crime, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
He was arraigned Tuesday on his charges before Magisterial District Judge Joseph Carmody and is scheduled to appear before Carmody for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. May 11.
Court documents indicate Parker posted $50,000 bail.