A Scranton man stalked his ex-girlfriend at work and fled from officers who attempted to detain him, police charge.
Mary Bachak called Dickson City police Friday at about 6 p.m. to report criminal mischief and a protection from abuse violation, according to a criminal complaint. Bachak had an active PFA against her ex-boyfriend Matthew Kearney.
Officer Zakery Sawyer met with Bachak in the security office at Lehigh Valley Hospital on Main Street in Dickson City.
Surveillance video showed Kearney driving through the hospital parking lot three times Friday, including as Bachak was talking with police, officers said.
The video also showed Kearney underneath Bachak’s vehicle for several minutes, police said.
During an interview at police headquarters, Bachak told officers she noticed her rear tires were low, nearly flat, when she went to her vehicle during her lunch break, according to the criminal complaint.
After finishing her shift, Bachak contacted security to review the video and discovered Kearney had been under the vehicle, police said.
Kearney also tried to open a door to the vehicle, police said.
Bachak told police Kearney violated the PFA by showing up at her home, and police were notified, but no arrests were made, according to the criminal complaint.
On Saturday, Scranton police Officers Matthew Tulaney and Matthew Vaughn were dispatched to Kearney’s residence at 632 N. Rebecca Ave. at 1:14 p.m. to assist Dickson City officers with serving a warrant.
Officers attempted to make contact with Kearney before talking to his father, Donald Kearney, who told police his son would meet them after getting changed. Matthew Kearney instead went down into the basement and out the door, officers said.
Tulaney commanded Matthew Kearney to stop, but Kearney started running in the opposite direction, police said.
When Tulaney eventually took Kearney to the ground, they fell into bushes, according to the criminal complaint. Kearney also resisted officers as they tried to place handcuffs on him, police said.
Tulaney suffered a minor abrasion on his leg and a cut near his hand, police said. Kearney didn’t have any visible injuries or request treatment, according to the criminal complaint.
Police charged Kearney, 31, with stalking, criminal mischief – tampering with property, flight to avoid apprehension, evading arrest or detention on foot, and resisting arrest.
As of Monday, Kearney remained in Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 18 at 9:30 a.m.