NEW BETHLEHEM BOROUGH, Pa. (ETY) — A New Bethlehem man is facing charges following an incident in which he allegedly brandished a knife, threatened three people, and swung a log at a man in New Bethlehem.
Court documents indicate the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department filed criminal charges against 21-year-old William Frank Smead III on the following charges:
– Aggravated Assault, Felony 1
– Terroristic Threats With Intent To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1 (three counts)
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
According to a criminal complaint, around 7:32 p.m. on October 26, Sergeant Clark, of the New Bethlehem Borough Police Department, was dispatched to the area of the 200 block of Broad Street for a report of a male threatening two juveniles and an adult with a knife.
Sgt. Clark met with the victims at the scene.
According to the complaint, the adult victim stated he and the juveniles were leaving a gas station in New Bethlehem, and as they were walking, a silver Dodge Neon pulled over near them and a male, later identified as William Frank Smead III, exited the passenger side and began yelling at them, accusing them of “staring at his car” and his five-year-old child.
Smead allegedly said he “will not tolerate that” and stated “we can handle this problem,” then got into the trunk of the vehicle and displayed a large knife before walking toward the victims with it, the complaint states.
The victims then attempted to get away and began walking on Hunter Way, but found Smead waiting for them again. Smead then allegedly stated he was going to “smash the juveniles’ heads into the ground,” according to the complaint, and went on to say he was “going to make a phone call and have all three of them dead.” The victims reported Smead showed them another knife, then also grabbed a large log and swung it at the adult victim, according to the complaint.
The victims attempted to get away again and also told Smead they were calling 9-1-1. Smead then allegedly got back into the vehicle, which headed north on Wood Street, the complaint states.
According to the complaint, Smead later attempted to contact the adult victim through Facebook Messenger and also created a Facebook post that said “Anyone know a chubby ginger with glasses who walking around newbie with 2 girls one green hoodie and another one blonde.”
Smead was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jeffrey C. Miller at 12:15 a.m. on October 26.
Unable to post $50,000.00 monetary bail, he was lodged in the Clarion County Jail.
He was released on October 30 on a surety posted by a professional bondsman.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:15 a.m. on December 17, with Judge Miller presiding.
