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Man charged with holding woman, children hostage

A Monroe County man is facing charges after authorities say he held a woman and her children inside a home while armed with a rifle.

Pocono Mountain Regional Police responded April 29 to the area of Locust Ridge Road and Orono Drive in Pocono Lake for a report of a man being dragged by a vehicle.

Police said they found Hamidullah Abdul-Hafiz, 36, of Pocono Lake, suffering from road rash.

According to police, Abdul-Hafiz had been involved in a domestic dispute earlier in the day. Investigators said the woman and her children left the home, but Abdul-Hafiz came outside with a rifle and forced them back inside.

Police said Abdul-Hafiz took their phones so they could not contact anyone and paced back and forth while holding the weapon.

After a period of time, police said Abdul-Hafiz had the woman drive him to a shop. She dropped him off, then returned home and gathered the children.

As she was leaving, Abdul-Hafiz returned in an Uber, police said. Investigators said he got out and stepped in front of the vehicle. When the woman tried to leave, police said Abdul-Hafiz jumped onto the car, causing the injuries.

Abdul-Hafiz is charged with unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, terroristic threats, possessing an instrument of crime, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

He was arraigned before District Judge Danielle Travagline, who set bail at $40,000.