Drug charges against two men bound to court
Drug charges against two men from New York state were bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Dominic Cercone.
Anthony P. Paul, 45, of 2708 Niagara Falls Blvd., Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Christopher M. Freeney, 49, of 154 S. Butts Ave., Jamestown, N.Y., were arrested at a traffic stop on April 22.
According to the criminal complaint, a Bradford City police officer started following a vehicle driven by Paul because he saw it in a “high drug-trafficking” area and it had a damaged side mirror that was hanging down. The officer saw other clues that led him to believe the occupants were up to illegal activities.
The officer pulled the vehicle over on U.S. Route 219. He could smell the aroma of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and Paul and Freeney were having trouble answering the questions the officer was asking, the complaint indicated.
Paul admitted to having a broken crack pipe in his pocket, and, during a pat-down of Freeney’s person, a clear plastic bag containing 27 individual wax paper bags of suspected crack cocaine fell out of his pant leg, according to the complaint.
When the bag fell out of Freeney’s pant leg, he was detained and a K-9 unit was brought in to search the vehicle.
The following items were found in the vehicle: a marijuana “blunt,” “AlienLabs” containing marijuana, a crack pipe and a jar with three Viagra pills in it, according to court records.
The complaint states that both men have prior charges of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance, and both are listed with the FBI.
Paul is incarcerated in lieu of $15,000 cash bail, and bail for Freeney was changed to 10% of $25,000.
Bradford man accused of assaulting three people
A Bradford man is facing allegations that he assaulted his girlfriend and two police officers on Tuesday.
Matthew G. Confer, 25, of 21 Delaware Ave., was arraigned Tuesday night before District Judge Richard Luther on two counts of aggravated assault, second-degree felonies; and one count each of simple assault and resisting arrest, second-degree misdemeanors.
The criminal complaint states that at 6:18 p.m. Tuesday, Bradford City Police were dispatched to a domestic dispute on Delaware Avenue. They found someone chasing Confer down the road, and the person told police that Confer just beat up his girlfriend and there was a video of it.
According to the complaint, the video showed Confer walking around the house and yelling about a hat, then arguing with a female; Confer then got in the female’s face, she pushed him back and he shoved her, grabbed her, threw her on the floor, landed on her and squeezed her.
Patrolman Matthew Gustin told Confer he was under arrest and told him to put his hands behind his back, but Confer said no and started to run, the complaint stated. Gustin deployed a Taser, and officers were able to put Confer in handcuffs.
Gustin tried to put Confer into the patrol vehicle, but Confer allegedly pushed back, and Gustin put him on the ground. Confer began to kick at Gustin and Chief Butch Bartlett, and, after officers continued to struggle with Confer, mace was used on him to get him to stop being aggressive, according to the complaint.
Confer was committed to McKean County Jail in lieu of $30,000 bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 13.
Gifford man accused of threatening voicemails, damaging home
A Gifford man who is accused of leaving threatening voicemails and damaging someone’s home waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday before District Judge Richard Luther.
Daniel A. Hartle, 43, of 3611 Route 646, is charged with terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor; criminal mischief, a second-degree misdemeanor; and harassment, a third-degree misdemeanor.
According to court records, at 3:49 p.m. Sunday, Foster Township Police were called about a criminal mischief complaint on Derrick Road. At the scene, the alleged victims told police that they came home to find someone had poured gasoline into the bed of a 2018 Ford F-150 pick-up truck.
They told police that Hartle had poured gasoline on the truck with the intent to set it on fire; Also, the truck’s radio antenna had been broken off, and there was firewood on its hood and scratches and dents from where pieces of wood had hit it, the criminal complaint stated.
Two windows were broken out because someone threw objects at them, and there was broken glass, glass bottles and glass stones scattered over the porch and inside the residence, according to court records. They found a shovel in front of the residence that was not there before, too.
Hartle allegedly left five voicemails at their home between 2:28 p.m. Saturday and 12:51 p.m. Sunday, too. In the messages, he used expletives and name-calling, asked for a fight, made theft accusations and said things such as “I hope you sleep well tonight” and “You’ll be dead soon, trust me,” court records stated.
Court records indicate that Hartle was initially jailed in lieu of $15,000 bail, but he was set to be released on $15,000 unsecured bail after a bail hearing on Wednesday.
Bradford man accused of assault, threats
A Bradford man is facing allegations that he threatened and assaulted a woman.
Mark A. Pingie, 54, of 1074 South Ave., was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Richard Luther on charges of terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor; simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor; and summary harassment.
According to the criminal complaint, Bradford Township Police were dispatched to the scene of a possible domestic dispute following a 911 hang-up call. A woman told police that she and her husband, Pingie, were arguing, and he allegedly slapped her across the face, tried to choke her and threatened to kill her.
Police found Pingie a short time later, and he admitted that they got into an argument over a missing UPS package, and he lost his temper and slapped her, the complaint stated.
Pingie is free on $20,000 unsecured bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for May 13.
