Man Wants Police To Return His Family Heirloom Pitchfork

[matcom]

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WILKES-BARRE – Junius Todd lumbered to the side door on the dark porch of his Grove Street home Thursday night.

He said all he wants is to get his pitchfork back.

The tool was taken during an incident on Dec. 31, 2003, involving Todd and a relative, Odetta Todd, of Wilkes-Barre, after a police chase.

His attorney filed a petition in Luzerne County Court Wednesday to get it back.

City police said Odetta Todd failed to stop a vehicle she was driving at two red lights. When officers tried to stop her, she fled, then left her car at the intersection of Grove and High streets and ran onto a porch.

Junius Todd, who was 84 at the time, came out of the house and threatened two officers with the pitchfork, police said.

One of the officers snatched the weapon but he continued to resist until he was subdued, police said.

The jury found Odetta Todd guilty of resisting arrest, harassment, disorderly conduct and numerous traffic offenses. The jury failed to render a verdict on a charge of fleeing police.

A jury found Junius Todd not guilty of obstructing the administration of law, simple assault, and harassment, but he never got his pitchfork back.

Attorney John Donovan filed a petition to get the family heirloom returned. Junius Todd said police still have a knife he kept in his pocket.

“They’d better still have it,” he said of the pitchfork. “Or else I’ll be really mad.”

Todd said his son brought the pitchfork to the house to do some work. He wouldn’t say what kind of work.

Donovan’s petition claims that because Junius Todd was found not guilty the pitchfork serves no purpose in any investigation.

A hearing to determine whether he’ll receive the tool is slated for March 14.

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/news/local/10813459.htm