Felony charges filed against county prison inmate following his escape

Eight days after Lycoming County Prison inmate Harry Thomas Bell jumped out of a vehicle and fled while being returned to the county’s Pre-Release Center in Loyalsock Township, law enforcement officers received a tip on the afternoon of Dec. 27 that the 43-year-old fugitive was staying at a motel on Lycoming Creek Road in Old Lycoming Township. Bell, of 671 Campbell St., jumped out of a second-story window in an attempt to elude officers, who had responded to the business and surrounded the property, it was alleged in an affidavit filed by the county sheriff’s department.

Bell was captured and taken to UPMC Williamsport to get treated for injuries he suffered in the jump, the court document stated. Shortly after being discharged from the hospital, Bell was arraigned on Dec. 30 before District Judge Aaron Biichle on felony charges of escape and flight to avoid apprehension stemming from his break for freedom on the afternoon of Dec. 19, when he allegedly jumped out of the vehicle in the 200 block of Market Street in the city. He was being returned to the pre-release center after a hearing in the courthouse. On these felony charges, he was jailed in lieu of $50,000 bail. He has been an inmate since late September when he was incarcerated on violating a protection from abuse order.

On Friday morning, he was arraigned before District Judge William Solomon on a felony charge of flight to avoid apprehension and a misdemeanor charge of evading arrest. These offenses stem from his trying to authorities at the motel. He was recommitted in lieu of an additional $100,000 bail.

Second arrest made in 2024 burglary case

A second man, Christian Krisher, 23, of Watsontown, has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the mid-April 2024 burglary at a vacant building at 8998 Lycoming Creek Road in Lewis Township; a break-in that resulted in about $50,000 damage to the structure, according to state police. Krisher and Thomas Lee Smith, 46, of 738 Antlers Lane, are alleged to have removed copper piping as well as copper wiring and aluminum floor-board heaters from the building, police said. Like Smith, who turned himself in at Solomon’s office on Thursday, Krisher surrendered to law enforcement on Friday morning to face felony charges of burglary, theft, criminal mischief and criminal trespassing, He was released on $75,000 bail.

Motorist charged with his fifth DUI following township crash

When Sean Obryan was taken into custody for allegedly being impaired when he crashed his 2004 Ford pickup truck into a mailbox in the 1600 block of Log Run Road in Loyalsock Township about 10 p.m. on Dec. 28, it would be the fifth time he was charged with DUI, according to state police. Obryan, 54, of 370 Clark St., South Williamsport, claimed he lost control of his truck on the ice-covered road while descending a hill, police said. However, he also admitted to having five alcoholic beverages prior to the crash, police said. A woman riding in the truck at the time of th crash told investigators she “saw Obryan drinking throughout the day, but could not (say) how much he actually (consumed),” it was stated in an affidavit. His blood-alcohol content level was .19, police said. Following his arraignment Thursday before Solomon on felony DUI plus three summary offenses, Obryan was released on $30,000 bail.