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Blackface scandal spotlights deeply embedded racism in US

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Defenses dominated what was supposed to be a super shootout

<p>HAZLETON &#8212; A man who pulled a gun on someone in the city early Sunday and later fired a round into a vehicle was arrested after an all-day manhunt that led officers to a quiet section of Sugarloaf Township, police say.</p><p>Juan Jesus Rosario, 21, of Sybertsville, was believed to be headed to a relative&#8217;s home in Wilkes-Barre when stopped by Sugarloaf police just after 9 p.m. Sunday, according to Hazleton Chief Jerry Speziale.</p><p>Rosario had been tracked to the Sybertsville area after he fled Hazleton, authorities say, and surveillance was conducted on the address where police thought he was staying.</p><p>But Hazleton and Sugarloaf officers had to wait patiently all afternoon and into the night before they noticed lights go on at the home, the chief noted.</p><p>Rosario then began heading out of the area on Route 93 in a red Jeep Cherokee before the vehicle was pulled over and the suspect taken into custody without incident, according to Speziale.</p><p>&#8220;They loaded up the vehicle with all his belongings,&#8221; said the chief. &#8220;He was loaded up to get out of there.&#8221;</p><p>Speziale added that Rosario, known to frequent the city and who at one point was living on Alter Street, is also a suspect in two incidents involving gunfire in Hazleton in 2017 and 2018.</p><p>According to the criminal complaint:</p><p>Just after 1:30 a.m., officers responded to the area of North Wyoming and West Green streets where a victim said someone pulled a gun on him and that shots had been fired.</p><p>The gunman was later identified as Rosario.</p><p>A security officer at Prestigio Restaurant &amp; Bar said Rosario was loud and abusive inside the establishment.</p><p>The security officer proceeded to ask Rosario to leave because he was scaring other patrons. Rosario disappeared from the establishment for several minutes before returning.</p><p>Rosario returned with a semi-automatic handgun in his hand, prompting the security officer to draw his firearm that he has a license for out of fear for his life and other patrons.</p><p>The security officer told Rosario he needed to leave the area and that he was calling police.</p><p>As officers searched nearby streets for him, they were flagged down by a motorist who said they encountered a pedestrian at Pine and Maple streets who appeared to need help.</p><p>Unknown to the motorist, the pedestrian was actually the fleeing Rosario. When the motorist asked him if he was OK, Rosario replied: &#8220;You in the wrong place, homey.&#8221;</p><p>Rosario then put a magazine into a firearm and took aim at the vehicle that had stopped, firing a round into the rear bumper fascia and a second shot that missed as the motorist drove away.</p><p>The suspect evaded police and was able to get to Sugarloaf Township at some point Sunday, which is approximately seven miles from the city.</p><p>Police were on his trail, however, and began watching a home at about 1 p.m.</p><p>&#8220;There wasn&#8217;t activity for hours,&#8221; said Speziale.</p><p>But at about 8:30 p.m., lights started going on at the residence and Rosario left a short time later.</p><p>He didn&#8217;t get very far.</p><p>The men who were in the car that Rosario shot picked him out of a photo lineup.</p><p>Rosario was arraigned on Monday morning by District Judge Michael G. Dotzel on four felony aggravated assault charges, three counts of reckless endangerment, two counts of simple assault, terroristic threats and firing a shot into a vehicle.</p><p>He was remanded to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $250,000.</p><p>Speziale was grateful for the help from Sugarloaf Township police, which he said &#8220;enabled the successful apprehension of a dangerous individual.&#8221; </p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Sugarloaf Township officers are seen with Juan Jesus Rosario, 21, after his arrest Sunday night. Rosario pulled a gun on someone in Hazleton early Sunday and later fired a shot into a vehicle, police say. He was taken into custody after officers conducted an all-day stakeout at a home in the Sybertsville section of Sugarloaf Township. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_R.-Zientek-Rosario-T.-Kurtz-SLPD-2.jpeg</photo0><caption0>Sugarloaf Township officers are seen with Juan Jesus Rosario, 21, after his arrest Sunday night. Rosario pulled a gun on someone in Hazleton early Sunday and later fired a shot into a vehicle, police say. He was taken into custody after officers conducted an all-day stakeout at a home in the Sybertsville section of Sugarloaf Township. </caption0><photoCredit0>Courtesy of Hazleton Police Department </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Chief: Rosario also a suspect in 2017, &#8217;18 gunfire incidents</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Michael Reich and Dan Stokes</p><p>mreich@www.timesleader.com</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Michael Reich is the night editor of the Times Leader. He can be reached at 570-991-6117.</p><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Police: Hazleton gunman arrested after all-day stakeout in Sugarloaf Township