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Man charged with waving ‘Scream’ mask

The father of a man charged with homicide in Lehighton in March has been charged with harassing his neighbors by waving a “Scream” movie mask similar to the one worn by his son in the killing.

At 5:50 p.m. Tuesday, Lehighton Police Department responded to a home in the 200 block of Carbon Street for a report of harassment.

The offender, Francis L. Moyer II, 68, had been incarcerated on March 26 for harassment and in that case, the same victim was listed.

Moyer had recently been released and part of his bail conditions was to have no contact with the victims listed in the March 26 incident.

The victim claimed that since Moyer’s release from the Carbon County Correctional Facility, he has been harassing all the neighbors by doing the following:

• Standing in the doorway of his residence and staring at the neighbors for long periods of time.

• Videotaping the neighbors when they walk by and intentionally walking past all the neighbors’ houses and staring at them constantly.

• On Tuesday, Moyer took a “Scream” mask and began waving it at the victim from his residence.

A “Scream” mask had been worn by Moyer’s son while the son committed a homicide on March 25.

The Carbon County District Attorney’s Office approved the charge of intimidation of a witness.

Lehighton police took Moyer into custody without incident.

Moyer waived his rights to a voluntary search of his residence, and the “Scream” mask used in this incident was located in the first floor of his property.

Moyer was incarcerated in Carbon County Prison on the new charge, and the District Attorney will look to revoke Moyer’s bail on the previous charge.

In March, Moyer was charged for harassment and led police to investigate a bomb threat. He faced charges on three counts of harassment and two counts of disorderly conduct in an incident unrelated to the March 25 homicide, police said.

Lehighton Borough Police Chief Troy Abelovsky said on March 29 that while in custody, Moyer made statements and threats leading to the department returning to the area.

On March 28, Lehighton Police Department was called back to the area this time for a bomb threat.

The department, working in conjunction with Carbon County District Attorney’s Office, received a threat of violence to local public buildings, Abelovsky said.

Information claimed explosive devices or explosive components were contained within the residence of 243 Carbon St., Lehighton Borough would be used to carry out the threat.

Police executed a search warrant to ensure there was no threat to the community at around 3 p.m. March 28.

On March 25, Moyer’s son, Zak, was charged with striking Edward Whitehead Jr., 59, who lived at 239 Carbon St., with a chain saw and a knife. He died from his injuries at St. Luke’s - Carbon campus.

Police said Zak Russell Moyer, 30, was wearing a mask and a black garment similar to the “Scream” movie character, is charged with the homicide.

Zak Moyer was seen on surveillance video footage exiting the rear of 239 Carbon St., and was seen entering the rear property at 241/243 Carbon St.