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Police: Person shot in foot at apartment complex in Hanover Twp.

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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A city officer&#8217;s finger was slashed by a knife-wielding man who barricaded himself inside a Regent Street house late Wednesday, court records show.</p><p>Police responded to a noise complaint at 62 Regent St. just before 11 p.m. and learned an occupant, John O&#8217;Neil, 54, had an arrest warrant issued Oct. 5 for disorderly conduct.</p><p>O&#8217;Neil became irate and refused to exit the house, records say.</p><p>Police allege O&#8217;Neil screamed and yelled he wasn&#8217;t going to be arrested and wasn&#8217;t going back to jail. O&#8217;Neil also allegedly threatened to stab officers if they did not get off his property.</p><p>Police requested several times for O&#8217;Neil to exit the house. O&#8217;Neil reportedly told officers he was armed with knives.</p><p>A battering ram was used in an attempt to force open a rear door, police said.</p><p>The force of the impact caused a hole in the door that did not open due to objects O&#8217;Neil allegedly placed against it.</p><p>When an officer reached through the hole, O&#8217;Neil slashed at the officer&#8217;s hand and caused a deep laceration to his finger.</p><p>Officers eventually entered the house and arrested O&#8217;Neil after a struggle.</p><p>The officer was treated at a local hospital.</p><p>This week&#8217;s incident follows police visits to O&#8217;Neil&#8217;s residence Oct. 5 and Oct. 6 when he was cited with disorderly conduct for loud music.</p><p>During one encounter, police said O&#8217;Neil used a microphone connected to speakers to scream at officers, claiming he was God and a sovereign citizen.</p><p>O&#8217;Neil was arraigned Thursday by District Judge Ferris Webby in Luzerne County Central Court on charges of assault of a law enforcement officer, simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct. He was jailed at the county lockup for lack of $30,000 bail.</p><p>Court records show O&#8217;Neil was sentenced by a Luzerne County judge in June 2005 to two years on probation on charges he assaulted an Edwardsville police officer.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_John-O-Neil-10252018-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">O&#8217;Neil </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_John-O-Neil-10252018-2.jpg</photo0><caption0>O&#8217;Neil </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Ed Lewis</p><p>elewis@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

WB police officer slashed with knife