Man charged with selling brick of fentanyl, fleeing
SCRANTON — A city man caught by police selling 50 bags of fentanyl Monday fled first by car and then on foot, according to a criminal complaint.
Joseph Thomas Christiano, 28, of 440 S. Edwards Court, faces felony charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and flight to avoid apprehension.
According to the criminal complaint:
Police intercepted text messages to Christiano from a second person indicating he planned to sell a brick of fentanyl to that person at a pre-determined spot at about 7 p.m. on Monday, police said.
Using a covert listening device placed nearby, police heard the exchange and confirmed the sale, the complaint states.
Following the sale, police retrieved the drugs from the second person and attempted to arrest Christiano by activating their lights and sirens. But, instead of stopping, Christiano accelerated, driving recklessly first on Glenn Street and then on Capouse Avenue, the complaint states. Police noted Christiano did not stop for traffic signals.
He then turned onto Ash Street, where he hit a pole while attempting to cross Wyoming Avenue, police said.
Christiano then got out of his Audi station wagon and began running northbound, when police were able to apprehend him, taking him to the ground, charges state.
As officers were placing him in handcuffs, he allegedly continued to resist. When officers searched Christiano, they found the cash from the fentanyl sale, charges state.
He remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $200,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 9 before District Judge Alyce Farrell.
