Felony Kidnapping, Assault Charges for Telford Hostage Suspect

Telford Borough Police have identified the man in Tuesday's hostage situation at 42 Indian Valley Lane as 21-year-old Emilio Sciortino Jr.

He is being held at Montgomery County prison in lieu of $3 million cash bail.

Sciortino Jr. is charged with felony kidnapping, felony aggravated and felony simple assaults, felony discharge of a firearm into an occupied building, and misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint and false imprisonment, police said.

Additional charges are likely, police said.

Sciortino Jr. was held overnight in Lansdale Police lockup and was arraigned Wednesday before District Judge Kenneth Deatelhauser.

Sciortino Jr. was committed to Montgomery County prison, police said.

A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 19 at 3:15 p.m. before Deatelhauser.

On Jan. 10, 2012 at 1:37 p.m., Telford Borough Police responded to 42 Indian Valley Lane for a domestic dispute.

While enroute, police learned that a man was allegedly holding a woman hostage and that he was allegedly armed with several firearms, police said.

Soon after police arrived on scene, several gunshots were fired from inside of the residence, police said.

Sciortino Jr. allegedly made threats through the Montgomery County Communications Center that he was going to shoot police if they tried to arrest him, police said.

After a half-hour, police made contact with Sciortino Jr. after he called 911 and dispatchers were able to patch through a cell phone connection.

Sciortino Jr. was convinced to free the woman hostage and to surrender, police said.

He was taken into custody by several officers on the front lawn of his home, police said.

Police learned that Sciortino Jr. had armed himself with several firearms: a .35-caliber rifle, a 12-gauge shotgun and a .30-06-caliber rifle.

Police found the guns laid out in the residence and fully loaded, police said.

A significant amount of ammo for each of the guns was also laid out and available for use, police said.

Police said Sciortino Jr. fired four rounds from one of the rifles. All four rounds exited the home, with two bullets striking a nearby home, police said.

That home is believed to be 41 Indian Valley Lane.

Police recovered one of the rounds from inside the home, within inches of a two-year-old child's bed, police said.

Police are continuing to saerch for spent rounds that could have traveled up to hundreds of yards, police said.

Police learned Sciortino Jr. had monitored police radio communications on a scanner that was in the home.

It was after he heard that the North Penn Tactical Response Team was being activated that Sciortino Jr. allegedly armed himself and loaded additional weapons, police said.

He commented to the woman hostage that he wanted to be prepared for tactical team snipers that would soon arrive, police said.

The victim is the 21-year-old estranged wife of Sciortino Jr., police said.

The incident began when he allegedly met her to talk about their relationship and then brought her back to his home, police said.

While at home, he allegedly handcuffed her and gagged her and held her against her will, police said.

He allegedly beat the woman with his fists, causing her to suffer face and head injuries, police said.

She was taken to Grand View Hospital by Souderton Community Ambulance for treatment, police said.

Sciortino Jr. pleaded guilty in March 2009 to trespass by a motor vehicle, according to Montgomery County court records. The incident occurred in February 2009 in Marlborough Township. His penalty was a $184 fine.

Telford Borough was assisted by Franconia Township Police, Souderton Borough Police, the District Attorney's Office and Telford Vol. Fire Co.

You can read the story on Tuesday's incident