During a domestic disturbance in his girlfriend’s apartment on Center Street on Saturday morning, William Richard Watson Jr. “held a gun to the woman’s head and told her that if she tried to leave, he would kill her and her child,” it was alleged in an affidavit. It was unknown how long Watson held the mother and her child hostage, police alleged, adding that the woman feared for her life and her child’s safety due to Watson’s alleged threats. Shortly after 9 a.m., the woman texted a friend and asked them to call the police.

Once officers were on the scene, Watson, 36, of 3605 Lycoming Creek Road, lot 15, was taken into custody without incident. His girlfriend told the officers that Watson hid a handgun in a book safe, and kept a large amount of drugs in a closet. Police obtained a search warrant to go through the apartment. Investigators seized a stolen gun and 2.5 pounds of marijuana. Watson was arraigned hours later before District Judge Gary Whiteman on felony charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, convicted felon not to possess a firearm (he was convicted of felony burglary in 2017), receiving stolen property plus several misdemeanors, including false imprisonment, terroristic threats, simple assault and additional drug offenses. He was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.