Man barricades self in closet after confrontation over illegal parking, bench warrant
CODY JACOB / SPECIAL TO SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - The scene of a police incident on South Catherine Street in Shenandoah on Feb. 1, 2025.
SHENANDOAH – A man is facing charges after police say he illegally parked in a handicapped spot and hid inside a closet after he was confronted about it and an active bench warrant.
Darious Felder, 34, was charged Tuesday by Shenandoah Police with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor flight to avoid apprehension, obstruction of justice, and summary parking in a handicapped space charges.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Patrolman Matt Williams, officers were called to the unit block of South Catherine Street around 11pm Saturday, Feb. 1 for a parking complaint.
A vehicle had been left running in a handicapped parking space for about two hours and did not have a placard, the complainant told police.
Felder was known to the complainant as the driver and officers had known he had an active bench warrant for back child support.
Police arrived and confirmed the vehicle was parked illegally in the handicapped spot and was running.
Officers approached the front door of the home Felder was in and, before they could knock, he opened the door.
Williams asked Felder if the vehicle was his, which he confirmed and asked what the problem was. He was then told he had an active bench warrant and told to step outside. Felder then denied being Felder and refused to step outside.
A dog inside the home began barking at the officers in an aggressive manner, Williams wrote, and the officer gave Felder multiple commands to come outside. Felder refused and used the door as a shield.
Williams drew his Taser device and Felder allegedly slammed the door on the officer’s right arm.
Felder claimed he did not know why the officers were bothering him, telling police he had been paying his child support.
Officers from Frackville, Mahanoy City, West Mahanoy Township, and Butler Township responded to assist Shenandoah Police.
With the assistance of officers from Mahanoy City and West Mahanoy Township, Williams made entry into the home and found Felder hiding in a closet in an upstairs bedroom.
He was taken to Schuylkill County Prison on the bench warrant.
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