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Southern Avenue man in jail after alleged death threats

A South Williamsport man has been jailed after he called his ex-girlfriend and allegedly “threatened to put a bullet in her head,” according to city police.

Joseph Francis Hazen III, 19, of 924 W. Southern Ave., has been charged with terroristic threats after making the alleged threat while on the telephone with Samantha Reed on Monday afternoon, police said.

Hazen then went to Reed’s home at 97 Parkwood St. and began pounding on her front door, police said. He fled after Reed told him she was calling police.

An affidavit said Reed was “extremely terrified” by the ordeal. The woman told police Hazen allegedly threatened to kill her and six of her friends three weeks ago.

A friend of Hazen’s, Michael Thomas Rook, 18, of 508 E. Central Ave., South Williamsport, also is in trouble with the law after he allegedly lied about not knowing Hazen’s whereabouts when officers came to his home about 5 p.m. Monday, looking for the man.

“He was here about an hour ago, but he is no longer here,” Rook told police.

However, while officers were still at the house, Rook’s mother found Hazen hiding behind her son’s bedroom door, according to an affidavit. Rook has been charged with hindering apprehension and prosecution.

Both men were taken before District Judge Allen P. Page III. Hazen was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $15,000 bail while Rook was initially jailed in lieu of $2,500 bail, but has since been release.

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