Scranton police arrested two men following foot pursuits early Saturday, after officers attempted to stop them for traffic-related violations in downtown, the department said in a release.
Just after midnight, officers spotted two men, later identified as Chase Tapper and Matthew Fialkowski, illegally crossing Mulberry Street and quickly running across the crosswalk.
Officers noted one of the men was wearing a sweatshirt although the temperature was 80 degrees.
Police followed the pair southbound onto North Washington Avenue and then onto Wyoming Avenue, noting the two began running and again failed to use a crosswalk.
Officers found the men at a Mulberry Street parking lot. Officer Nicholas Brett exited his patrol vehicle and ordered the men to stop.
Instead, both men ran toward Linden Street. Officers caught up with them at 200 Linden Street, noting it was a well-lit area.
The men then fled for a second time.
Tapper, 37, of Philadelphia, fell to the ground as he was running and officers were able to take him into custody.
Officers soon caught up with Fialkowski on Linden Street and also took him into custody.
During a search of Tapper, officers recovered 60 grams of marijuana packaged for distribution, in addition to 474 Xanax pills, drug paraphernalia and other drug-related items consistent with narcotics trafficking, police said.
Tapper faces charges of intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, evading arrest, resisting arrest and obstructing justice.
Following Fialkowski’s apprehension, officers recovered a discarded Taurus 9 mm handgun with an extended magazine.
Fialkowski, 37, of Scranton, is legally prohibited from having a firearm due to prior convictions and admitted it was his, police said.
He is charged with illegally possessing a handgun, carrying a handgun without a license, evading arrest, resisting arrest and tampering with evidence.
“The investigation remains ongoing, and additional investigative steps, including search warrants, are being pursued,” Scranton police said in a release.
Both men remain in Lackawanna County Prison, Tapper in lieu of $100,000 bail and Fialkowski in lieu of $150,000 bail.
The men have preliminary hearings scheduled for 9 a.m. on July 9 before District Judge Paul Ware.