Suspect wanted for New York homicide arrested in Scranton

Aug. 11—A man wanted for homicide in upstate New York was arrested Friday at Scranton's Bangor Heights housing complex, city police said.

Bernard Lamar Alexander, 41, was taken into custody at about 7 a.m. at 596 Mary St., said city Detective Jamie Barrett, supervisor of the Street Crimes Unit.

Alexander complained of chest pain when the police arrested him, and he was taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center, where he was under guard by city police.

He was otherwise captured without trouble, Barrett said.

Police in Schenectady, New York, investigated a homicide on May 22 at 953 Crane St., where a victim was shot multiple times. Police obtained an arrest warrant on Aug. 9 charging Alexander with second-degree murder and firearms offenses, said U.S. Marshal William Pugh in a news release.

Deputies from the U.S. Marshals Service and officers from the city police, its Street Crimes Unit and its K-9 Unit worked to apprehend Alexander.

Federal authorities received a tip that Alexander had been staying in Scranton. Early on Friday, police staked out Mary Street and moved in when they saw him.

He is awaiting extradition to New York. Scranton police also charged him with flight to avoid apprehension and possession of narcotics.

A detective in Schenectady confirmed they held a warrant for Alexander but referred further inquiries to a public information officer. Attempts to reach a PIO in Schenectady were unsuccessful.

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