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Sheriff Deputy Charged With DUI, Threats

SCRANTON — A Lackawanna County sheriff’s deputy turned himself in to authorities Thursday on charges he pulled a gun on someone in a suspected case ...

SCRANTON -- A Lackawanna County sheriff's deputy turned himself in to authorities Thursday on charges he pulled a gun on someone in a suspected case of road rage.

Deputy William Hyduchak has worked at the Lackawanna County Courthouse for the sheriff's department for nine years. On Thursday afternoon, he answered to criminal charges here.

He's accused of DUI, assault, and making terroristic threats after that alleged road rage incident last month.

William Hyduchak of Olyphant is a Lackawanna County sheriff's deputy and part-time police officer in Olyphant. When Newswatch 16 asked if the handgun Hyduchak allegedly pointed at another driver last month was issued by either of those departments, prosecutors said "no comment."

The other driver told police it startled him when he went up to Hyduchak's truck window at the intersection of Delaware and Grant Streets in Olyphant   on the night of April 6.

According to court papers, the driver said Hyduchak was blocking the intersection, so when he went to see what was the holdup, Hyduchak held up his handgun and pointed it at the driver, told the driver to "have respect," and then drove off.

His coworkers with the Olyphant police department eventually caught up with Hyduchak and arrested him on suspicion of DUI.

"He was driving under the influence of alcohol. It's alleged his blood alcohol level was a .265, I believe," said Lackawanna County A.D.A. Robert Klein.

Prosecutors say since that's more than three times the legal limit, they charged Hyduchak with an aggravated DUI charge, along with assault and making terroristic threats for allegedly pointing his gun at the other driver.

"Well, we don't want to characterize cases or evidence but anytime someone drives under the influence of alcohol and a weapon is involved, it concerns us greatly," Klein added.

Hyduchak was arraigned at the courthouse Thursday.

Lackawanna County Sheriff Mark McAndrew told us he couldn't comment on Hyduchak's status with the department now because it is a personnel issue.

We haven't been able to reach Olyphant's police chief to see what Hyduchak's status is with that department.

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