SMETHPORT — The former chief of the Bradford City Police was
accepted into the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program
Thursday in McKean County Court on an allegation of assaulting his
girlfriend in March.
Michael P. Close, 50, of Bradford, was represented at the
hearing, held before Senior Judge H. William White, by attorney
Stephanie Vettenburg-Shaffer. The prosecuting attorney was state
Deputy Attorney General Todd Goodwin.
The allegations in the case are that at 12:30 a.m. March 14,
Close was involved in an argument with Amy Baker at her residence
when he allegedly struck her in the mouth and ripped a necklace
from her neck. He went outside and she followed, at which point he
allegedly pushed her, and she fell and struck her head, according
to court records.
Goodwin said Thursday that Baker suffered only minor injuries,
and was in favor of Close being admitted into the ARD program.
“You understand that successful completion of the program earns
you a dismissal of the charges against you?” White asked Close.
Close said that he did understand.
White asked if he understood that a violation of any conditions
of his ARD status could mean a revocation of the status, and Close
would have to answer to the charges “as if you’d not been in the
program.”
Close said he understood.
Shaffer said she wanted to make clear that accepting ARD was not
an admission of guilt on Close’s part. “(Close) has a very good
reputation in the community,” Shaffer said. “He was a police
officer for a long time.”
Close retired March 17, as had been his intention prior to the
altercation on March 14.
White said, “You are still presumed innocent of the charges. You
haven’t admitted misconduct. The victim and the court are relying
on you to comply with the conditions” of the ARD program.
White ordered Close to be in the program for one year, to obtain
evaluations for drugs and alcohol, as well as mental health, and to
undergo treatment — including anger management — if recommended in
the evaluations.
Close was also ordered not to be in possession of any firearms
for the duration of his sentence. Shaffer explained Close has
firearms and will retain ownership of them, but will have them
secured elsewhere for the length of his sentence.
Along with the standard conditions of the ARD program, Close
isn’t permitted to consume alcohol, nor be in any place where
alcohol is served or sold, for the duration of his sentence.
White had some final words for Close before the hearing
concluded.
“I respect your years as an officer,” White said. “Everybody has
a bad day now and them. It’s too bad that you are here.”
