A Dickson City man is accused of forcing his way into another man’s apartment and threatening to kill him, jealous because his ex-girlfriend was there.
Nathan Cook, 30, faces felony charges of aggravated assault and criminal trespass.
On April 11, Throop police officers, including Officer Shawn Lahey, responded to 159 Bellman Street for the report of a fight between two men.
When officers arrived, they made their way to the apartment where the incident took place, and spoke with James Kennedy and Stefani Drake.
Kennedy said Cook had forced his way into the apartment, gun in hand, according to the criminal complaint.
Officers noted Kennedy was bleeding.
Kennedy said he grabbed Cook by putting both arms around his torso and Cook began hitting him in the back of the head with the gun.
Cook told Kennedy, “I’m going to kill you,” police said.
Kennedy told police Cook then left the area. He provided a description of Cook and the car he was driving, a Subaru Legacy.
Drake told officers Cook was likely going to their residence at 620 Layborne St. in Dickson City. She told officers the gun in Cook’s possession belonged to her father, John Drake.
Dickson City police Officer Matthew Gallagher responded to the Layborne Street address, found Cook standing on the porch and arrested him.
Gallagher noted Cook had a red stain on his jeans that appeared to be blood.
When asked if he was willing to speak with Lahey, the Throop officer, Cook said he was willing to talk “about a few things.”
Lahey asked Cook if there was a firearm in his vehicle and he said there wasn’t. He said he had access to only one of John Drake’s guns.
After receiving consent to search the Layborne Street residence, police recovered a loaded black handgun from a bedroom dresser, according to the complaint.
The firearm, which belonged to John Drake, also appeared to have blood on it and was identified as a Ruger LCP-2, a lightweight semiautomatic pocket weapon.
Gallagher unloaded the handgun, which had one round in the chamber.
As of Friday, Cook remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail, according to court records.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 22 before District Judge Alyce Farrell.