Pocono News Section

Two Arrested for Early Morning Pittston Murder

Two Arrested for Early Morning Pittston Murder - Sunday, August 30, 2009 at 6:30PM EST

Reported by: Kyla Campbell
Sunday, Aug 30, 2009 @ 06:30pm EST

PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY -- A 25-year-old man was badly beaten and found dead on William Street in Pittston Sunday morning.

Two men are in police custody. They were arraigned late Sunday afternoon. Investigators say 31-year-old Andre Edwards of Pittston and 19-year-old Nicholas Policare of West Pittston beat to death Joseph Lesh.

Officials say the three were drinking when a disagreement began and a fight broke out. Neighbors who live within feet of the crime scene were surprised to wake up to flashing lights.

"I'm shocked," said Joanie Kaskiel, who just moved to the neighborhood six months ago from Dallas. "It's usually a quiet neighborhood, we go walking, my friends and I. And to hear somebody got killed, it's like, woah."

P. J. Melvin has lived on William Street for 63 years.

"I couldn't believe it. None of the neighbors can believe it," said Melvin, who added, "but at the same time, the neighborhood has changed drastically over the past 10 to 15 years. A lot of transients are coming in and out. At that particular house [where the crime happened] there is somebody moving in and out every day."

Most neighbors went on with their daily routines as police secured the scene and collected evidence. But Melvin hopes violence doesn't become part of that routine.

"It's really a shame," said Melvin. "There's a lot of children that live around here, and with what's going on, it's disheartening to say the least."