(Also published in the Rocket-Courier)
David Anthony Cronauer, 28, Laceyville, has been charged with flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment; disorderly conduct of a physical offense, and providing false identification to law enforcement in Tunkhannock. According to Tunkhannock police, Ptlm. Donald Hornlein was in the area of West Street in the early morning hours of Sept. 9 when he encountered Cronauer in the proximity of a van parked in the Epsco lot at 1:29 am that was not there an hour earlier. Cronauer allegedly told Hornlein that he was fixing the van for a friend, gave his name as Anthony Cronauer, and said that he did not have any identification on him. Hornlein returned to his cruiser and ran the name through his computer and determined that Cronauer’s first name was likely David, for whom there was an active warrant at the Blair County Sheriff’s Office. As the patrolman returned to the van, Cronauer was already on the run and jumping the first of two fences in his path before disappearing into the darkness. Two state troopers arrived on the scene to help Hornlein search for Cronauer, who was found just north of Epsco at about 3 am and taken into custody. It was determined that the van belonged to a Meshoppen resident, who Cronaeur told police was with him initially but left. A pocket knife and lock picking set were found on the floor of the passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle’s owner could not be immediately located, but police did not believe that he was involved in any crime. Cronauer’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Sept. 20.