LUZERNE BOROUGH, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A drug trafficking investigation spanning two counties leads to an hours-long standoff with state and local authorities in a residential neighborhood.
It happened Tuesday afternoon in Luzerne Borough. Neighbors were evacuated from their homes while police negotiated with the barricaded gunman.
Police swarmed the 700 block of Miller Street in Luzerne. It’s where the suspect, 45-year-old Jason Scott Evans, locked himself inside his home with a gun.
“The incident began as a result of multiple investigations from the Luzerne County Drug Task Force and the Attorney General’s Office which stretched all the way to Scranton,” said Luzerne County District Attorney Sam Sanguedolce.
Sanguedolce says drug agents attempted to serve a search warrant at Evans’ home.
“The suspect then barricaded himself in a bathroom. There’s a female present that we were able to extract,” said Sanguedolce.
The State Police Special Emergency Response Team was called to assist at the scene, and after the use of a flash grenade, Evans surrendered.
“I thought it was a gunshot! It scared me, I thought it was a gunshot, I was ready to run. And it was the smoke bomb, we saw all the smoke,” said Luzerne Borough Resident Gail Pabst.
During the incident, neighbors like Pabst were evacuated from their homes.
She says it’s a concerning sight to see happening in this quiet community.
“Crazy, very crazy. But it’s the world we live in now, unfortunately. You worry for the children,” said Pabst.
The District Attorney says Evans is expected to be charged with recklessly endangering another person and firearm offenses for the standoff, in addition to felony drug delivery charges.
