Philadelphia man denied bail following violent domestic disturbance

While the children fled to a nearby home for safety in the 1600 block of Sherman Street on the night of Oct. 17, their mother was confronted by Sameer Ruffin, who forced her into another house and told her he was going “to kill her and the children,” it was alleged in a city police affidavit.

The 22-year-old Philadelphia man and the woman then got in a car, police said. Ruffin told the woman he was going to take her to another house so that he could “(mess) her up,” the court document stated.

When the two reached the 300 block of Washington Boulevard, the woman tried to get out of the car, but Ruffin first grabbed her shirt and then grabbed a hold of her throat, interfering with her ability to breathe, police alleged. When officers arrived in the area, Ruffin took off running, police said. The victim said she feared Ruffin was going to kill her, it was stated in the affidavit.

Taken into custody and arraigned last week before District Judge Denise Dieter, Ruffin has been charged with terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, false imprisonment, felony strangulation, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault. Bail was denied and he was automatically committed to the Lycoming County Prison.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 6.

High-speed pursuit results in driver facing multiple charges

On the night of Oct. 11, after taking city police on a high-speed pursuit that was just under four miles, John Arthur Drummond Jr., driving a silver sport utility vehicle, pulled into a parking lot on Leader Driver in Loyalsock Township, jumped out and gave the officers an obscene gesture with both his hands, it was stated in an affidavit.

Drummond, 43, of 383 W. Third St., was ordered to drop to the ground, but when he refused, one of the officers deployed his taser on the man, who was then taken into custody. The pursuit began in the 1500 block of Elmira Street and continued into the city’s East End, where Drummond was driving in a reckless manner, swerving in his travel lane and running “through stop signs at high speeds,” police said.

When he was taken into custody, Drummond “smelled of PCP,” referring to the mind-altering drug, police said. The driver admitted he had “two drinks” before getting behind the wheel, police said.

Arraigned hours later before District Judge William Solomon on charges of felony fleeing police, recklessly endangering another person, DUI and 10 summary offenses, Drummond was jailed in lieu of $25,000 bail. He has since waived his preliminary hearing.

Victim of reported gun theft ends up getting charged with firearm offense

On the afternoon of July 28, George Rishel Hoffman called Lycoming Regional police to report that two firearms were stolen from his camper at the Susquehanna Campground at 460 Susquehanna Drive in Piatt Township. When officers arrived on the scene to question Hoffman, they saw a large case “filled with multiple rifles and shotguns,” police said.

Through their investigation, police learned that because of the 51-year-old man’s previous history, he is prohibited from having any firearms whatsoever, it was stated in an affidavit. Police obtained and executed a search warrant for the camper that Hoffman uses as his residence.

A total of 23 firearms were seized from the camper, which resulted in Hoffman being charged with 23 misdemeanor counts of illegal possession or transfer of firearms. He has been sent a summons to appear before Dieter.

Convicted sex offender allegedly never registered with state police when he moved to Williamsport

For more than two years, convicted sex offender Darrell Dean Crouse Jr. lived in the city at 636 Market St. and never registered with the state police as he is required to do so by law, according to an affidavit.

Convicted in July 2004 of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, last registered his Megan’s Law required registration in Michigan clear back in 2019. He is alleged to have fled Michigan and never alerted authorities there or here of his move.

Taken into custody on Market Street on Tuesday, Crouse, 46, was arraigned before Solomon on a felony charge of failure to register with the state police, and committed to the county prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.