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Nine charged after melee in Lansford

Three juveniles suffered serious injuries during a large fight in Lansford Borough last month. Now, nine people are facing felony charges.

Lansford Police say they are still looking for three of the alleged suspects: Phil Argott, 19, James Beard, 30, and Hunter Skidmore, 19.

Casey Rodweller, 34, Richard Rodweller, 41, and Arthur Rodweller, 20, have all been arraigned and released on bail.

They are each facing a felony charge of riot as well as related misdemeanor charges.

Three juveniles, ages 17, 17 and 12, are also facing felony riot charges. Their names were not released because they are under 18.

According to a press release from Lansford Police, they were all involved in a large fight with approximately 16 individuals, some wielding knives.

The fight occurred June 15 around 9:30 p.m.

Police said that two juveniles suffered fractured noses, closed-head injuries and facial lacerations. A third suffered hearing damage.

The incident reportedly stemmed from a verbal altercation between some juveniles and a man operating a pickup truck on Bertsch Street near the entrance to the Turkey Hill parking lot.

The man allegedly returned to the Turkey Hill with a group of adults and juveniles and the fight ensued. Police said the adults also threatened passersby who attempted to stop the fighting.

Police said that they had to use surveillance video to identify some of the suspects because some participants refused to cooperate with police.

Lansford Police also investigated a stabbing that occurred one hour after the fight, and was possibly related. The victim, who reportedly suffered multiple stab wounds, refused to cooperate with police, Chief Jack Soberick said. That investigation is still open, but inactive.