MAHANOY CITY - A man who threatened to harm himself Friday afternoon was found near his home later that night about 1 1/2 hours after authorities called off their search.
Jeremiah Spirko, 24, of 639 E. Centre St., was found at his home just after 11:30 p.m. and taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for psychological evaluation on a mental health warrant obtained by police earlier in the day.
Mahanoy City police Chief Mark J. Wiekrykas said officers checking the area near Spirko's home saw the man near the back door before he fled inside the house.
Officers were then able to take the man into custody without incident.
The chief said the incident began about 2 p.m. when information was received that Spirko left his home threatening to harm himself and that he could possibly have a weapon with him.
After two sightings, one about 3:30 p.m. near his parents home in the 1200 block of East Mahanoy Avenue and another about 4:30 p.m. near the former White Oil Manor facility, police stepped up their search for Spirko.
A person who reported seeing the man about 4:30 p.m. said he appeared to be holding what looked like a hand gun.
As the night moved on, Lt. John Kaczmarczyk spotted Spirko in an area near his home on a Reading and Northern Railroad property about 7:30 p.m.
The man again fled and an all-out search of the area began that included police from neighboring communities, state police troopers from the Frackville station and a state police helicopter.
As darkness fell, Wiekrykas said the search was called off for the day with anticipation of starting again Saturday morning.
This, the chief said, never occurred because the man was located and taken into custody without incident at his home.
Wiekrykas said authorities still do not know whether or not Spirko had a weapon and that the investigation is continuing.
He said police are also looking into the possibility that family members provided false information to authorities during the course of the search and that criminal charges may be filed.