Man charged with rape in second incident

Courtesy: Hazleton City Police Department

HAZLETON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Police say a man is facing charges after he was accused of raping a woman and attempting to rape another.

Hazleton City Police said on May 24, 2023, officers were called to the 700 block of Roosevelt Street for a reported rape. The victim claimed the suspect followed her to her house in the morning and when she returned home from work, the suspect raped her, police said.

Police said the suspect was identified through DNA testing as Jiobany Cruz, 36, of Hazleton.

Nearly a year later, at approximately 2:30 a.m. on May 16, 2024, Pennsylvania State Police were called to investigate a reported attempted rape that had occurred at a Planet Fitness in Hazleton.

The victim said she was followed as she left the gym by a man who tried to rape her in her car. Through further investigation, officers identified the suspect as Cruz and he was arrested.

Cruz has been accused of:

• Rape
• Rape (attempted)
• Unlawful restraint
• Serious bodily harm
• Simple attack
• harassment
• Burglary

He remains in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility after being denied bail.