A Scranton man who trespassed on West Scranton High School property Friday and later assaulted a Geisinger employee attempting to help him during a mental health crisis, faces multiple charges which include aggravated assault, according to a criminal complaint.
Michael Villa, 29, of 703 Pittston Ave., who sits on the city’s Human Relations Commission, allegedly showed up at the school requesting a tour. When he was denied, he began acting erratically and staff became concerned for building safety, the complaint continued.
Scranton police officers immediately responded at the school, but Villa already left.
It was then that the district put all of its buildings on a brief lockdown while law enforcement searched for Villa, because they were unaware of his intentions, police said.
After being taken into custody by city police and being transported to Geisinger Community Medical Center for a mental health evaluation, Villa threw his cell phone a security guard’s head, according to the complaint.
Villa’s co-workers said he seemed to become increasingly unstable in recent weeks, according to a affidavit accompanying a search warrant request for his vehicle. They said Villa slammed doors, punched things and spoke incoherently.
At one point, he was overheard referencing Charlie Kirk, the recently slain conservative activist, saying, “It’s our time to rise. It’s our time to stand up,” according to the affidavit.
He also stated that he enjoyed shooting his firearm and liked taking it apart.
According to the affidavit, a protection from abuse order was issued against Villa on Sept. 16, which required he relinquish all firearms. Villa, however, did not turn over his guns, police said.
Villa remains at the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of bail.
Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti, with unanimous approval from Scranton City Council, appointed Villa to the Scranton Human Relations Commission in November of 2022. He replaced former commissioner Teresa Osbourne, who resigned earlier that month.
Then-President Kyle Donahue, Bill King, Mark McAndrew, Jessica Rothchild and Tom Schuster all voted in favor of the appointment. The term expires Feb. 23, 2026.
Scranton Solicitor Jessica Eskra said Villa wasn’t active and involved on the board for quite some time, possibly as far back as 2023.
According to the city website, the Human Relations Commission receives and investigates complaints filed by people who believe they have been a victim of unlawful discrimination.
Villa’s recent charges, which also include harassment and criminal trespass on school property, are not the first time he’s been in legal trouble.
In August of 2023, he was sentenced to six months of probation for resisting arrest, fleeing or attempting to elude an officer and defiant trespassing, public records show.