SCRANTON - A passenger in a truck chased by Hazleton cops at more than 100 mph is suing them for excessive force allegedly committed when the vehicle crashed.
In a recent lawsuit filed in March in the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas, Isaias Manuel Garcia has accused the City of Hazleton and police officers Jonathan A. Leonard and Eric Hernandez of excessive force, while also naming Omar Alexis Vargas, and Brian Anthony Castillo as defendants.
The incident in question occurred on February 8, 2020. According to the complaint, defendant Vargas was driving a Dodge RAM owned by defendant Castillo with plaintiff Garcia as a passenger.
Defendant Leonard initiated a high-speed chase after observing the vehicle speeding and driving erratically. Despite activating his cruiser's overhead lights and siren, Vargas did not stop but instead accelerated.
Defendant Hernandez joined Leonard in the pursuit which took them through residential areas at speeds up to 90 miles per hour. The chase continued even after leaving Hazleton city limits.
The pursuit ended when Vargas lost control of the vehicle while attempting to exit Interstate 81 towards McAdoo. The vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest in a snow-covered field during which Garcia was ejected from the vehicle.
Garcia says he was arrested without probable cause or reasonable suspicion while laying facedown in snow with no pants. He says the officers pinned him to the ground, "then withdrew a stun gun and tasered Mr. Garcia as he lie face down in the snow with no pants on and in serious medical distress."
Garcia suffered a broken femur, dislocated hip and rib fractures, he says.
Garcia is represented by Therron Solomon from Dyller and Solomon LLC. The defendants have removed the case to federal court.