Lake Ariel postal worker accused of threatening to kill supervisor, claiming he was armed; police locked down Stafford Avenue post office and nearby federal courthouse in Lackawanna County

SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY — A Lake Ariel man is behind bars after authorities say he called in threats to kill his supervisor at a U.S. Post Office in Scranton on Friday morning, setting off a police response that shut down part of the area around the Stafford Avenue post office and a nearby federal courthouse.

John P. Lepka, 39, of Lake Ariel in Wayne County, is charged with terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor, and harassment involving threatening language, a third-degree misdemeanor, according to court records filed in Magisterial District Court 45-1-03 on April 17.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, Lepka threatened to kill his manager and claimed he was “packing” — a term generally understood to mean carrying a firearm. Lepka worked as a USPS employee at the Stafford Avenue location.

Drone Deployed, Code Red Issued in Scranton

Scranton City Police responded to both the post office and the nearby federal courthouse after the threats came in. Officers deployed a drone as part of the search, and officials issued a Code Red alert telling the public to avoid the area.

Lepka was not at the Stafford Avenue post office when police arrived. He was taken into custody without incident at the Taylor Post Office on South Main Street in Taylor Borough, a separate USPS facility where he had gone after the threats were made.

$50,000 Bail; Lepka Still in Lackawanna County Prison

Lepka was arraigned Thursday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Paul J. Ware. Bail was set at $50,000 monetary. He could not post it and was committed to the Lackawanna County Prison, where he remained as of Saturday.

He has requested a public defender. A preliminary hearing is set for April 29 at 10:30 a.m. before Judge Ware. The case is assigned to Magisterial District Judge Joanne Price Corbett. The arresting officer is listed in docket records as Officer Lindsey K. Dippre of the Scranton City Police Department.

Lake Ariel, Wayne County Resident

Lepka’s address is listed as Lake Ariel, a village in Lake Township in Wayne County, about 30 minutes east of Scranton. The community sits near Hamlin, Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, and The Hideout.

It is not yet known whether Lepka has prior criminal history in Wayne County, Lackawanna County, or neighboring counties including Monroe, Pike, Carbon, or Luzerne.

What the Charges Mean

Under Pennsylvania law (18 Pa.C.S. § 2706), terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another person is a first-degree misdemeanor carrying up to five years in state prison. Despite the name, the statute has nothing to do with organized terrorism — it covers threats of violence meant to cause fear in another person.

The harassment charge (18 Pa.C.S. § 2709) is a third-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year.

Because postal workers are federal employees, cases like this can also draw attention from federal prosecutors and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. It is unclear whether federal authorities are involved or whether additional charges are being considered. Scranton police have not said what led to the confrontation between Lepka and his supervisor.

The Pocono Review will continue following this case through the April 29 preliminary hearing.

All charges are accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

Court docket: MJ-45103-CR-0000109-2026, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania v. John P. Lepka