Officer injured while chasing down suspect

HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — An officer was sent to the hospital after police say he was injured while causing down a man avoiding arrest.

According to the Hazleton City Police Department, on September 13 around 1:09 a.m., officers pull over a car near Eros Cafe on East Diamond Avenue.

During the stop, an unknown man not involved with the incident started to yell at officers while standing on the street with an open container, police stated.

Officers went to talk to the man but he fled into Eros Cafe. A short chase began, where a brief struggle took place causing the officers and the suspect to fall onto glass tables.

The man, identified as Kenith Batista, 27, was arrested and he suffered no injuries during the struggle.

The officer involved was treated at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton for a dislocated shoulder and was released the same day.

Batista was charged with the following;

• Aggravated assault
• Resisting arrest
• Recklessly endangering
• Disorderly conduct
• Public intoxication

Batista was taken to the Luzerne County Correction Facility on a $10,000 straight bail.

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