A Tunkhannock man threatened to kill a police officer and several other people early Sunday morning, according to a criminal complaint.
Officer Andrew Hudak was on patrol in the 500 block of Linden Street responding to reports of disorderly individuals in the area.
While walking toward North Washington Avenue, Hudak spotted 33-year-old Justin Christopher Angelino yelling at occupants of a vehicle from across the street. The occupants were shouting back, telling Angelino to back away. Angelino responded by threatening to kill them.
When Angelino spotted Hudak, he pointed at the officer and threatened to kill him as well, according to the complaint.
Hudak wrapped Angelino in a bear hug and carried him away from the group. The officer noted Angelino was unsteady on his feet, slurred his words, smelled of alcohol, and appeared extremely intoxicated.
Other officers arrived shortly after to assist and placed Angelino in handcuffs. As officers walked him to a police cruiser, Angelino yelled to Sgt. James Golden, threatening to kill him and his family, according to the complaint.
Witnesses told police Angelino had been following their friend and making violent statements, including claiming he had previously “stabbed someone in the face 15 times.”
While in custody, police said Angelino repeatedly yelled that he would kill everyone in his cell and claimed to have killed multiple people in Philadelphia whose bodies had not been found. When asked if he knew where he was, Angelino replied, “Philadelphia.”
Officers noted that once inside the police cruiser, Angelino fell asleep.
Angelino, of 194 Ledgemont Lane, is charged with making terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, and public drunkenness. He remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 9 before District Judge Sean McGraw.