Bradford man arraigned on gun threat allegations
A Bradford man was arraigned Monday before District Judge Dominic Cercone for allegations that he threatened to kill a man with a gun at a local bar.
James K. Sisler, 46, of 102 Pear St., is charged with two counts of terroristic threats and two counts of summary harassment.
The criminal complaint states that on March 15, Bradford City Police responded to Players Downtown for a report of a male with a gun.
Witnesses and the alleged victim told police that Sisler was involved in an altercation with another male inside the bar, according to the complaint.
Witnesses related that Sisler said, “Call the police or I’m going to my car to get my gun and blow his head off,” the complaint stated. Sisler then allegedly went outside and retrieved his gun from his car, but was stopped by police.
The alleged victim and witnesses told police that on the prior weekend, on March 7, Sisler wore his gun in a holster inside Players and flashed it at the other male, threatening to kill him, court records stated.
Sisler is free on $1,000 unsecured bail, and a preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 27.
Charges against Bradford woman bound to court
Charges against a Bradford woman accused of making nearly $4,000 in purchases using someone else’s credit card were bound to McKean County Court at a preliminary hearing Monday before District Judge William Todd.
Melinda S. Schoonover, 34, of 20 Chris Drive, is charged with identity theft, a second-degree felony; theft by deception and access device fraud, third-degree felonies; six counts of receiving stolen property, first-degree misdemeanors; and three counts each of obstructing administration of law or other governmental function and receiving stolen property, second-degree misdemeanors.
According to the criminal complaint, at 9:22 a.m. on Jan. 15, Lewis Run-based state police were dispatched to Eldred Township for a report of a theft by deception involving a credit/ATM card. Police determined through their investigation that Schoonover made purchases from several businesses using financial information of a woman for whom she was a caretaker.
Between Dec. 9 and Jan. 10, Schoonover allegedly made several purchases for a total of $3,932.66 and had the items sent to her own address, the complaint stated.
According to court records, Schoonover then called the state police barracks three times between Jan. 22-26 and impersonated the victim, trying to avoid having charges pressed against her.
Schoonover is free on $15,000 unsecured bail.
Bradford man accused of intentionally striking vehicle
A Bradford man is in McKean County Jail after he was accused of intentionally striking a pick-up truck with his own pick-up truck during an altercation while he was under the influence of alcohol.
Brandon J. McKinney, 33, was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Dominic Cercone on charges of DUI-general impairment and make repairs/sell/etc. offensive weapon, first-degree misdemeanors; recklessly endangering another person, a second-degree misdemeanor; driving a suspended/revoked license related to DUI, a third-degree misdemeanor; and the following summaries: reckless driving, careless driving, failure to stop and give information/render aid, failure to notify police of accident/injury or death and accidental damage to unattended vehicle or property.
According to the criminal complaint, at 2:48 a.m. Saturday, Foster Township Police were called to Harrisburg Run for a report of a truck revving its engine. An officer spoke to the owners of the truck, McKinney and Deshina Barber. The officer reported that he could smell alcohol on both of them and McKinney was off-balance and had slurred speech, but he did not see either operating a vehicle.
At 4:29 a.m., the officer was called back to location for allegations that McKinney intentionally rammed his truck into another truck after an altercation. The officer asked that Bradford City Police be on the lookout for McKinney’s truck, and he returned to Harrisburg Run.
At the scene, the officer saw heavy damage to the alleged victim’s truck, and the truck was not able to be driven. The people there said McKinney was trying to pick fights with everyone, so he was told to leave. They said McKinney got into his truck, backed into the other truck and left the scene, court records stated.
At 4:40 a.m., Bradford City Police reported they found McKinney’s truck at 18 E. Main St. The Foster Township officer went to that address, McKinney came outside and the officer asked him what happened.
McKinney said he did not hit the other truck, claiming instead that Barber — his significant other — did it. The officer explained that witnesses stated that McKinney was the one driving, and McKinney said he was not driving, the complaint stated. The officer arrested McKinney for suspected DUI.
Prior to transporting McKinney to the Foster Township station, a Bradford City officer told him that McKinney was recently arrested for DUI and refused a chemical test then. Also, while searching McKinney, the Foster Township officer found brass knuckles in McKinney’s possession, according to the complaint.
During the drive, the officer asked McKinney if he would submit to a blood test, and he replied that he was not driving. When the officer said that witnesses reported that he was driving, he said that he would come back as being under the influence of alcohol; at the station, he said several times that he was not driving, court records stated.
According to the complaint, McKinney told the officer he was assaulted at the residence and remembers having a bloody lip at Harrisburg Run; however, the only injury the officer observed was a small abrasion on McKinney’s left wrist.
McKinney said several times that Barber was driving, but said “he was not going to let her take the fall for that,” the complaint read. When the officer said again that witnesses said that McKinney was driving, “He stated that he would not say his girlfriend/wife did it.”
According to the complaint, McKinney had three prior convictions of driving while suspended DUI related, a chemical test refusal on May 3, and DUI convictions in 2008 and 2009.
McKinney was jailed in lieu of $10,000 bail, and a preliminary hearing is set for May 27.
