According to West Hazleton Police, on Sunday, February 11, 2018, around 11:15 pm, West Hazleton Police Officer on patrol observed a vehicle being operated with a lighting equipment violation. During the course of a vehicle traffic stop, the driver, and a passenger, were found to be wanted persons.
Justin Paul Haines, 30, AKA “Justin Azar”, of Shenandoah, was wanted by Schuylkill County Adult Probation for violating probation conditions following a heroin sales conviction. Haines faces charges for False Identification to Law Enforcement, and drug related charges as a result of the traffic stop. Haines was taken into custody and transported to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
The vehicle operator, Joseph Michael Elliss, 35, of Hazleton, was wanted by the Luzerne County Sheriffs Department for failure to appear. Elliss also faces drug related charges, and driving with a suspended/revoked license as a result of the traffic stop. Ellis was taken into custody and transported to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.
