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Alleged drunken man at recent fundraiser charged with domestic assault

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In an upset, ‘Green Book’ wins best picture at Oscars

<p>HAZLETON &#8212; He turned out not to be the person who Chief Jerry Speziale thought he was.</p><p>Instead, it was a man who authorities say is wanted by the New York Police Department on a felony warrant.</p><p>It all started about 8:40 p.m. Sunday while Speziale was on patrol and spotted a man getting in a taxi at the intersection of Cedar Street and Diamond Avenue.</p><p>The chief said the man matched the description of a &#8220;person of interest&#8221; in another investigation, so he followed the taxi and stopped it at Eighth and Laurel streets.</p><p>The taxi passenger was identified as Gene Hayes, 31, formerly of Brooklyn and now residing in Hazleton.</p><p>Hayes was not the man Speziale was looking for in a separate investigation. But through the process of positively identifying him, police said they learned NYPD had a &#8220;full extradition felony warrant&#8221; for Hayes on assault and firearms charges.</p><p>He was taken into custody without incident and NYPD was contacted, according to Speziale.</p><p>Hayes was transported to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. He awaits an extradition hearing at a later date.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_image2.jpeg">
<div class="neCaption">Hayes </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/web1_image2.jpeg</photo0><caption0>Hayes </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Michael Reich</p><p>mreich@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Man wanted by NYPD nabbed in Hazleton traffic stop