Hazlett to be questioned in car vandalism

Police are attempting to question Dan Hazlett, a 21-year-old Northeast Philadelphia resident, in connection with the vandalized car of Montreal Gazette writer Pat Hickey, sources said on Monday.

Hickey was covering Game 1 of the Flyers-Canadiens Eastern Conference finals at the Wachovia Center when about $1,000 of damage was done to his car and his Quebec license plate was stolen.

Hazlett has hired a lawyer in the matter, police sources said.

Hickey has said he will not press charges but wants the guilty party to donate $1,000 to a Philadelphia charity and make a public apology.

Lt. Joe Dougherty of the Philadelphia police department said even though Hickey does not want to press charges, "the District Attorney's Office will probably pursue it. You can't just come into Philadelphia, trash a car, and steal a license plate, and get off with a public apology," Dougherty said. "That sends the wrong message."

A photo of Hickey's stolen license plate was posted on the Facebook page of Dan Flannery. Police have interviewed Flannery and said he is not a suspect but that he supplied information that should lead to an arrest.

Anyone with more information should contact police at 215-686-3013.