Disturbance by group in Tamaqua results in arrests

Amanda Christman, Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, Pa.
·2 min read

Feb. 26—More arrests are expected after Tamaqua police responded to a Feb. 16 fracas.

Officers were called to Mauch Chunk Street, near Five Points, around 3:50 p.m. for over 20 disruptive people who congregated there.

They found a large group of adults and juveniles outside a home, screaming, while adults and juveniles inside the home threw objects at them from a window, police said. The incident was brought on by a fight that day, according to officers who attempted to disperse those involved.

Numerous arrests were made and additional arrests are forthcoming. Among those arrested were two 14-year-old boys, a 17-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy.

Melissa A. Bailey, 40, of Tamaqua, was charged with a felony for riot. She was also charged with misdemeanors for corruption of minors, terroristic threats, failure to disperse and disorderly conduct and a summary count of harassment.

She was released on $25,000 unsecured bail Feb. 16 by Magisterial District Judge David Plachko, Port Carbon.

Arrest papers state:

Bailey was one of the people outside 18 Mauch Chunk St. yelling and cursing at the people inside. Police told everyone outside to go home but when the residents came outside, Bailey and several juveniles continued to yell profanity at the residents from about 30 yards away. Then, Bailey and the teenagers approached the residents, trying to provoke a fight by taunting them.

Officers told them to leave but Bailey refused and walked up to several people, yelling profanities again. She was placed in handcuffs after trying to spit on the residents and forcefully removed from the area.

Police from Coaldale and Rush Twp. assisted.

Video footage of the incident was captured on camera and shared on social media.

— Amanda Christman

Contact the writer: achristman@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3584