Couple charged with holding two people at gunpoint in West Scranton
Published: July 1, 2009
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HAZELTON
NALLY
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A West Scranton man and his girlfriend were arrested Tuesday on assault and weapons charges after holding two people at gunpoint in what started as a mother-son dispute over allegedly stolen money, city police said.
No one was injured in the incident late Monday at an apartment at 1617 Swetland St.
Thomas Donald Hazelton, 28, and his girlfriend, Debra K. Nally, 27, both of 440 Aswell Court, are accused of threatening apartment resident Eddie Mock and Mr. Hazelton's mother, Donna Hazelton, with loaded handguns after barging into the home shortly before 11 p.m., police said.
According to arrest papers prepared by Officer James Weaver, Mr. Hazelton initially drew a handgun from his waistband, cocked it and put it to his mother's head while threatening to shoot her.
At his direction, Ms. Nally then drew a second handgun and stood watch over Ms. Hazelton and Mr. Mock, police said.
"Keep an eye on them. If any one of them move, shoot their ass," Mr. Mock quoted Mr. Hazelton as telling his girlfriend, according to the arrest affidavit.
When Officer Weaver arrived in response to a neighbor's complaint, he heard loud arguing from inside the apartment, including mention of a gun. He called for additional officers, who set up a perimeter around the home.
Police ordered all four people out of the residence, and they were handcuffed as they exited. Inside the apartment, officers found two 9mm handguns, each loaded with hollow point bullets, along with drug paraphernalia, police said. A set of brass knuckles was found in Ms. Nally's purse in her vehicle.
The suspects both told officers they had valid permits to carry the handguns; they denied threatening Mr. Mock or Ms. Hazelton with them, police said.
Ms. Nally told police she and Mr. Hazelton went to the apartment because his mother had stolen money from him. Mr. Mock said Mr. Hazelton accused his mother of stealing $500 to $600 and seven pounds of marijuana, according to the affidavit.
Magisterial District Judge James Kennedy arraigned Mr. Hazelton and Ms. Nally on a long list of charges, including aggravated and simple assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and possessing instruments of crime.
Both were ordered held in the Lackawanna County Prison - Mr. Hazelton on $50,000 bail and Ms. Nally on $100,000 bail.
Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com
91 posted comments
I think I'd rather them stay on the streets and kill each other. I hate to think I will have to pay for them to live in prison.