A Luzerne County man was arrested after he caused a disturbance at Turkey Hill on Mulberry Street in Scranton on Nov. 28, according to a criminal complaint.
Randy Haines, 65, of Main Street, Larksville, is accused of threatening employees and customers with a metal rod and then leaving the store when police were called.
According to the complaint:
Officers were called to the store at about 2:30 p.m. for a report of a man in black jacket and blue jeans carrying a pink bag and threatening others with the pole.
Police reviewed video surveillance footage, which showed Haines was walking east in the 1500 block of Mulberry Street.
Officer James Griffith ordered Haines to stop, but Haines didn’t. Griffith grabbed Haines and sat him down on nearby steps.
Officers then spoke with employee Lucas Davis, who said Haines had been in the store for some time before he started threatening employees and other customers.
Danielle Newton, another employee, told officers Haines had been causing a disturbance as she came on shift.
When asked to leave, Haines grabbed a metal pole and began swinging it around and attempting to hit others.
Newton said Haines had hit her but she was not injured.
Kyia Mrykalo told officers she had been sitting outside in her car when Haines yelled at her, using racial slurs.
Allison Belt said she had been in the store and witnessed Haines acting disorderly and trying to hit others with the pole.
Witnesses interviewed by police said Haines had caused a major inconvenience and disrupted the store’s operations.
Video footage showed several people attempting to take the pole from Haines in front of the store. Police found the pole near the store.
When questioned by police, Haines refused to provide his identify. Officers identified him through a prescription pill bottle in his pocket.
Haines was transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center for evaluation.
He threatened officers several times and acted in an extremely disorderly manner.
Haines faces a felony charge of making terroristic threats, as well as simple assault, falsely identifying himself to police officers and disorderly conduct.
He remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $2,500 bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. on Dec. 9 before District Judge Sean McGraw.