A Scranton man who sits on the city’s Human Relations Commission is facing multiple charges — including aggravated assault — after a disturbing sequence of events Friday that began at West Scranton High School and ended in violence at Geisinger Community Medical Center.
Michael Villa, 29, of 703 Pittston Avenue, was appointed to the Human Relations Commission in November 2022 by Mayor Paige Cognetti, with unanimous City Council approval. His term was scheduled to run through February 23, 2026, though city officials, downplaying the connection to the Mayor, indicate he has not been active on the commission for some time.
Villa also joined the Scranton Area Community Foundation in September 2022 as a part-time Grants Assistant, according to the foundation’s Instagram.
According to a criminal complaint, Villa entered West Scranton High School on Friday asking for a tour. When denied, he allegedly became erratic, prompting staff to call police. Officers responded immediately, but Villa had already left. Out of caution, the Scranton School District placed all of its buildings on lockdown while police searched for him. That swift, decisive action likely prevented further risk and drew praise from many who recognized the danger of allowing an unstable, potentially armed individual to wander freely.
After leaving West, Villa posted a Facebook Reel showing himself wandering the athletic fields at Scranton High School, underscoring the unease district officials felt about his movements that day.
Later, Villa was taken into custody and transported to Geisinger CMC for a mental health evaluation. While there, police say he threw his cell phone at a security guard’s head.
An affidavit filed by investigators detailed reports from Villa’s co-workers, who described him as increasingly unstable in recent weeks — slamming doors, speaking incoherently, and referencing slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk with statements like, “It’s our time to rise. It’s our time to stand up.”
The affidavit also noted Villa’s enjoyment of firearms. A protection from abuse order issued September 16 required him to relinquish his guns, but police allege he failed to comply.
This is not Villa’s first brush with the law. In August 2023, he was sentenced to six months’ probation for resisting arrest, fleeing police, and trespassing. Despite his sentencing, it appears that he was not removed or asked to resign from his position on the city’s Human Relations Commission, raising questions about vetting.
Villa is currently being held at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of bail.
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