Scranton police have not made any arrests in a pair of shootings earlier this week in South Side, but on Thursday another car was seized in connection with the incidents, acting Police Chief Carl Graziano said.
The car was seized outside Scranton and is being searched for evidence in connection with the shootings that occurred early Sunday around the 2800 block of Marvine Avenue and on Monday just after 7 p.m. in the Hilltop Manor public housing development, the chief said.
He declined to divulge where the car was seized or its make and model. It is the latest of a few vehicles seized in connection with the two shootings. The Sunday shooting is believed to have been in retaliation for a prior incident outside the city, and Monday's shooting followed as retaliation for the Sunday gunfire, the chief said.
The shootings that have unnerved South Scranton were raised as an issue by residents during city council's meeting Thursday.
"Where are the elected officials of Scranton?" South Scranton resident Bill Jackowitz asked. "I have yet to see the mayor or anybody else coming out and talking about these incidents to reassure the citizens of Scranton that we have safe neighborhoods and that they are doing all they can to keep us safe."
Council President Janet Evans replied that she had spoken with Mayor Chris Doherty earlier Thursday about the shootings.
"There is a very intense investigation that is ongoing," Mrs. Evans said. "It may take a bit longer than originally thought because it appears that it's going to be much bigger than what was originally, well, what was originally thought to be the case. So, please know that the Scranton police and other sources are very active on this case."
Chief Graziano, who was not at the council meeting, commented when reached by telephone after the meeting. He also said that "some people of interest" in the case have been identified and progress in the investigation is being made, but "because of the nature of what these people are involved in, it's a difficult case for us to close."
For example, people of interest are known to their associates only by nicknames, he said. They use rental cars and are not from the Scranton area, and have ties to Luzerne County and other areas, the chief said.
Another South Scranton resident, Terri Soucek, who lives near Hilltop Manor, said, "As far as that shootout's concerned, there's gangs in there. That's why they're having a shootout; that's why they're having drug activity."
Chief Graziano afterward said in response, "We believe some of the members (persons of interest) are associated with gangs, yes. But whether we can say this shooting is the result of gang activity itself is premature."
Still, whether the individuals who were involved in the shootings are gang members or not, "They're committing ganglike crimes," the chief said.
In other matters, council voted 5-0, with Mrs. Evans and Councilmen Pat Rogan, Bob McGoff, Jack Loscombe and Frank Joyce all in favor, on each of the following:
n To adopt a resolution authorizing a $1 million deferment in paying landfill fees this year to Keystone Sanitary Landfill in Dunmore and repaying the debt interest-free monthly over the next three years.
n To adopt an ordinance authorizing a $20,000 operating grant to Electric City Television, the public-access station that broadcasts council meetings. The funds would come from an Urban Development Action Grant.
n To introduce an ordinance to transfer $880 in old tax anticipation note funds to general checking, and close out the TAN accounts that are no longer needed.
n To introduce an ordinance to establish a no-parking zone along the borders of "Pretzel Park" in the 1700 block of North Washington Avenue, the 1100 block of Electric Street and the 1800 block of Wyoming Avenue. Vehicles parking in these areas are causing traffic and pedestrian hazards by compromising minimum safe-sight distances for traffic and pedestrians.
n To introduce a resolution authorizing a memorandum of understanding between the city and the U.S. Department of the Army's Scranton Army Ammunition Plant regarding parking. The agreement calls for the city to allow during certain high-security times parking by plant employees along Mattes Avenue and River Street, where no-parking signs exist. The parking restriction in this area would be lifted during an alert level called "Force Protection Condition DELTA," which is the highest personnel readiness level for the Department of Defense, and when all vehicles entering the plant must first receive a comprehensive and time-consuming inspection. Plant employee vehicles would be allowed to park on the street outside the plant in the no-parking zone during a DELTA alert, so the cars don't have to go through the inspections.
n To introduce a resolution authorizing the Scranton-Lackawanna Health and Welfare Authority to issue up to $3 million in tax-free revenue bonds to finance a capital project of the nonprofit St. Mary's Villa Nursing Home Inc. It would use the funds to acquire and improve a 64-bed personal-care facility at 1 Pioneer Place in Elmhurst Twp. While city approval is needed, there is no financial liability to the city in approving the resolution, and it would not pledge or obligate the credit or taxing power of the city, officials said.
n To introduce a resolution accepting the recommendation of the Historical Architecture Review Board approving the replacement of a sign on a building at 414 Spruce St. The sign is being replaced with one of the same dimensions and color scheme, but with a different name, due to a change in the business name at that location to "Steam Cafe & Lounge."
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter