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East Hempfield Township police were called to a disturbance involving a man walking around naked outside of his room, screaming and throwing objects off the balcony at the Red Carpet Inn in the 2100 block of Columbia Avenue on Thursday around 4:45 a.m., according to the police.
Upon the arrival of the first officer, they found Joel D. Vazquez-Frias, 26, of Lancaster, throwing objects off of the second floor balcony, according to the release.
The officer approached Vazquez-Frias who “immediately began walking towards the officer while displaying a box cutter in his hand, and threatened to injure the officer,” as stated in the release.
The officer attempted to leave, but Vazquez-Frias continued advancing towards them with the box cutter in his hand, despite the officer repeatedly ordering him to drop it, according to the release.
The officer used a TASER device on Vazquez-Frias as additional officers arrived on scene, and they were able to take Vazquez-Frias into custody without any further incidents, according to police.
Joel Vazquez-Frias has been charged with the following according to court documents:
- F2 Aggravated Assault - Attempts to cause or causes bodily injury to designated individuals
- M1 Terroristic Threats With Intent To Terrorize Another
- M2 Criminal Mischief - Damage Property (2 Counts)
- S Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting
- S Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct
He has been held in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $250,000 in bail, according to his most recent court docket.
He has a criminal record in the county for traffic offenses and pleaded guilty to a summary charge Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct in Aug. 2020, according to court documents.
His preliminary hearing has been scheduled with Judge Brian E. Chudzik on Jan. 11, 2022, at 1:30 p.m., according to his court docket.
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