Pocono News Section

Wilkes-Barre Police Crime Reporting Criticized

Wilkes-Barre Police Crime Reporting Criticized - Thursday, May 13, 2010 at 04:03AM EST

Reported by: Joe Holden
Thursday May 13 2010
0/ 5 rating

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY- For three decades Dale Harris has owned his automotive business in the city's Heights section. This past weekend, he said it was shot at multiple times. Thursday evening, he showed Eyewitness News several shell casings that he wedged from cars and the wall of his shop.

Harris says he is frustrated with the lack of information provided by police. He said there was no police report or information released via a press release. A police lieutenant Thursday night confirmed there was never a press release issued. But Lt. Paul Middleton said the incident would've only been considered criminal mischief since no one was inside Harris' building when it was struck by multiple bullets.

Harris said the situation has him fed-up.

Eyewitness News received multiple reports on Monday night of three armed attempted car-jacking cases in South Wilkes-Barre. Police issued a press release 24 hours later indicating the situation was drug motivated. A Luzerne County 911 supervisor on Monday night confirmed there were three separate scenes related to car-jacking reports. Police only later dismissed the two as unfounded.

Harris believes if police released details sooner about violent crime in the city, people would be better off. And he said he's willing to take a financial hit with his business so that people have information about where crime is occurring.