Jim Thorpe man killed after standoff in Pike County

A Jim Thorpe man was killed on Wednesday after a standoff in Porter Township, Pike County.

According to Troop R state police in Dunmore, State Police and the Pike County District Attorney’s Office are investigating the incident which resulted in the fatal shooting of Nicholas Joseph Cantelmi, 31, of Jim Thorpe.

The incident began at 11 a.m. Wednesday after state police at Lehighton contacted Blooming Grove and asked them to locate Cantelmi for a parole violation out of Carbon County. They said Cantelmi was a danger to himself and others.

Police located Cantelmi’s vehicle and tried to stop him. Cantelmi struck a police car and fled. Police pursued him on Pine Flats Road, where he stopped at a cabin and went inside.

A warrant was obtained to search the cabin and charge Cantelmi was aggravated assault of a law enforcement officer, fleeing and attempting to elude an officer and reckless endangerment.

Throughout the afternoon, police from Blooming Grove and Stroudsburg attempted to contact Cantelmi. Police became aware that he had a gun and ammunition.

The special response team was called to the scene, with nearly 30 troopers responding. The team attempted to negotiate for seven hours.

Police heard a shot from inside the cabin. According to the report, they continued to negotiate before entering the cabin.

The SERT team entered the cabin and Cantelmi brandished a gun. He was shot and was pronounced dead at the scene by the Pike County Coroner’s Office.

The investigation is continuing into the police use of lethal force.