A Bradford man is in McKean County Jail on allegations he stole two bicycles from someone who was attending a church wedding.
John L. Hallock, 45, of 44 N. Kendall Ave., was arraigned Saturday before District Judge Richard Luther and incarcerated in lieu of $20,000 bail, court records stated.
According to court records, between 2 and 3:30 p.m. Saturday, two bicycles were taken off the back of the van of a wedding guest who was inside St. Bernard Church. The owner of the bicycles, Teddy Miller, told Bradford City Police he came outside after the ceremony to find the cable lock had been cut and his bicycles — a yellow custom-made recumbent bike worth $1,500 and a green Sears “Free Spirit” bike worth $200 — were missing.
Police watched footage from the city’s camera system and saw that at 2:59 p.m. a man — later identified as Hallock — was riding the yellow bicycle, court records indicated. Later footage showed Hallock meeting up with James Kemick, and the pair exchanged sweatshirts, then parted ways.
Police found Hallock and Kemick in the Uni-Mart parking lot on Chestnut Street, where Hallock was taken into custody and taken to the police station for an interview. Meanwhile, Kemick told an officer that Hallock took the bikes and he knew where they were, according to court records. Kemick took the officer to 52 Bedford St., where the bikes were allegedly recovered.
In his interview with police, Hallock said Kemick had approached him said he had a bike he needed Hallock to ride; he said Kemick retrieved the bike, rode it down Chestnut Street, then gave it to Hallock, court records indicated.
Hallock is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, all first-degree misdemeanors, court records stated. He is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Thursday.
It was unclear at press time Tuesday whether or not Kemick would be charged in the alleged incident.
Bradford man facing new retail theft charge
A Bradford man with several retail theft convictions was charged in a new felony retail theft case this week for allegedly stealing three beverages from Sheetz.
Joseph B. Frontera, 24, of 13 High St., was arraigned Tuesday before District Judge Richard Luther on one charge of retail theft, a third-degree felony, court records stated.
Online court dockets indicate Frontera has eight retail theft convictions between 2012 and 2016 in McKean County.
According to court records, at 3:53 p.m. Aug. 11, the McKean County 911 Center contacted Foster Township Police about a retail theft in progress at Sheetz. Frontera allegedly took two Monster energy drinks.
Frontera “stated (to police) he was willing to leave the Monster energy drinks in the business if he could just leave without issue,” court records read.
The officer explained to Frontera that he was now under investigation, and he checked Frontera for weapons. The officer also checked Frontera’s light blue rainbow-colored backpack for merchandise. Frontera initially said a chocolate milk bottle in the backpack had been there since the night before, but when the officer discovered it was cold to the touch, Frontera admitted he had taken it from Sheetz, according to court records.
The total worth of the chocolate milk and two energy drinks is $6.89, court records stated.
Frontera was released on $5,000 unsecured bail, and he is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Sept. 14.
