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NANTICOKE — A convicted felon was arraigned Monday on charges he discharged a firearm next to a man he blamed for having a sexual relationship with a married woman.
City police arrested Tazelle Frederick Curtis, 33, of East Ridge Street, in the area of 109 Espy St. in the Hanover Section of Nanticoke shortly after he allegedly fired at least two rounds from a handgun inside 109 Welles St., rear.
David Buckley told police Curtis fired rounds while holding a handgun next to his head, court records say.
Court records say witnesses told police Curtis was angry with Buckley for being involved in a sexual relationship with a married woman close to Curtis.
After Curtis was arrested, he denied any involvement in the shooting and told police marriage is sacred and he doesn’t believe in abortion and divorce.
No injuries were reported.
According to the criminal complaint:
Luzerne County 911 received several phone calls at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday about gunfire from the Welles Street residence.
Officers arrived and spoke with Buckley.
Buckley claimed Curtis put a gun to his head and threatened him before firing two rounds next to him.
After the gunshots, Buckley said Curtis demanded his car keys.
A person inside the house identified in the complaint as Witness 2 told police Curtis held a gun to Buckley’s head. Buckley knelt on the floor as Curtis stood over him and fired two or three rounds next to Buckley, the complaint says.
Curtis left the residence with Jamie Donsky, both carrying duffel bags and walking in opposite directions. Donsky walked toward a Chevrolet Cavalier and put the car keys in the door but returned to the residence knowing officers wanted to speak with her.
Police said they found a Springfield XD-9 semi-automatic handgun inside a duffel bag Donsky left outside the Chevrolet. The handgun was loaded with 12 rounds with one round in the chamber, the complaint says.
A loaded magazine was also found inside the duffel bag.
Police said the handgun was reported stolen on April 27 to Hanover Township police.
Court records say Curtis is prohibited from owning, carrying and possessing a firearm due to a 2006 drug trafficking conviction in Luzerne County.
Curtis was arraigned by District Judge Richard Cronauer in Luzerne County Central Court on charges of aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, terroristic threats, receiving stolen property and illegal possession of a firearm. He was jailed at the county correctional facility for lack of $100,000 bail.