Tamaqua police cited Jesus Vargas, 34, of Tamaqua, with public drunkenness, harassment and disorderly conduct following an incident that began at 8:20 p.m. Nov. 17 at an East Broad Street laundromat.

According to police, officers were dispatched to the site for a burglar alarm but found customers doing laundry as usual.

Officers checked all doors, including one that said “Employees Only.” When police attempted to open it, they heard a female ask who it was. Police identified themselves, and the woman opened the door holding a large hammer.

She told police that a customer, later identified as Vargas, had been at the laundromat and began punching a machine that did not work. Police said that when the woman questioned him, Vargas, began to yell and scream at her. She ran to the door, locked it and hit a panic alarm. Vargas told the woman, “You can run but you can’t hide from me.”

A customer told police that Vargas walked east on Broad Street. Another officer stopped Vargas in the area of the borough garage. Police said he had slurred speech and was unsteady on his feet. He told officers that he would sue them.

Police said they took Vargas into custody and released him to a family member after he became sober.