Old Lycoming Township man held on charges stemming from disturbance
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Following a 40-minute preliminary hearing Wednesday in which he heard testimony from two women and an Old Lycoming Township police officer, District Judge William Solomon ruled there was sufficient evidence to hold Anthony Humphries Jr., 30, on all charges stemming from an incident at his mobile home at 2014 Zuni Lane late Sunday afternoon.
The first on the stand was Humphries' long-time girlfriend who testified that the two had argued over "fidelity issues" and that Humphries ordered her to get out, leaving behind an elementary school-aged child.
The woman told Solomon that she and Humphries together "snorted coke (cocaine)" during the day. She also claimed that Humphries smashed her cellphone. She said Humphries would not allow her to take the child with her. She also said there was a handgun, registered in her name, in the home.
Also taking the stand was the child's grandmother, who reported that when she arrived at the home, she heard "click, click," which she assumed was Humphries racking a gun, but she testified that she never once saw him possessing a firearm. She fled and called 911 when Humphries ordered her off the porch, according to her testimony.
Township Patrolman Dalton Lovell, the lead investigator in the case, then took the stand and reported that officers could not check on the welfare of the girl for about 40 minutes as they talked with Humphries.
When officers first arrived, Humphries came out with his hands up screaming multiple times "police brutality, police brutality," according to Lovell. Humphries told the police that his girlfriend was lying, according to the officer, adding that Humphries called the officers "a bunch of racist cops."
The incident was resolved peacefully, and no one was injured. The child was found safe, unharmed, inside the home.
Lovell testified that a loaded handgun was recovered from on top of a pile of clothes that were on a chair. A search warrant was executed on the property. Drugs, including marijuana and cocaine, were taken from the home, Lovell said.
Humphries' attorney motioned to have charges of terroristic threats and endangering the welfare of child dismissed, but the judge rejected the motion, ruling that Humphries, who remains jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail, will face further court action on these township police charges as well as one count of criminal mischief, possession of controlled substances and possession of drug paraphernalia.