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Tamaqua arrests

Tamaqua police released details on three recent arrests.

Joseph Alfred Spencer

, 45, of 41 Meadow Ave., Tamaqua, faces charges of simple assault, reckless endangerment and criminal mischief after a domestic dispute on March 15. The victim told police Spencer was an ex-boyfriend who came to her house that day. When she caught him secretly recording their conversation she told him to leave. He refused and began screaming at her. At one point he broke a baby gate at the top of the stairway, He then pushed her over a gate at the bottom of the stairs causing her to hit her head against the wall.

He left when he discovered she was calling the police.

William J. Rizzo

of Jefferson Township was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. An alarmed motorist contacted police about an erratic driver on Route 209 on March 17. Officers stopped the gray Jeep just east of town, on the Number 11 Hill. Rizzo was the driver and appeared to be under the influence, slurring his words and smelling of alcohol. A preliminary breath test indicated a blood alcohol content of 0.170, more than double the limit. He refused to take a blood test.

The Jeep was towed from the scene.

Adam Cruz

, 33, of 20 Clay St., Tamaqua, was picked up on an outstanding warrant on March 29.

Cruz was found in the Burger King restaurant. When approached by an officer, he attempted to flee but was tackled in the parking lot.

His backpack contained a scale, multiple syringes, a spoon, shoelace tourniquet, cotton swabs and adhesive bandages. He was taken to the Schuylkill County prison in Pottsville on the warrant, which was issued by the Luzerne County Adult Probation Office.

He was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.