A homeless Bradford man was arraigned Tuesday afternoon before District Judge Dominic Cercone for charges in two criminal cases.
Mathew K. Frederick, 26, is accused in one case of theft and in the other with falsely reporting that someone threatened him with a knife.
According to court records, at 4:27 p.m. Saturday, a Bradford City Police officer was dispatched to East Main Street for a report of Frederick claiming he was threatened by a woman with a knife.
Frederick allegedly told the officer that he was walking down Main Street when a woman came out of her apartment and put a knife to his throat. Frederick said he ran away.
The officer pointed out that Frederick’s boots were untied, and Frederick told him he took them off and ran.
The officer watched a city security camera, which showed Frederick walking at a slow pace, never running, and he had his boots on the entire time, according to court records.
The officer went to speak with Frederick again, who again stated that he was threatened; however, this time, he told the officer he ran west, when he previously told the officer he ran east. He also said this time that he never walked past Cook’s residence, court records stated. Then, Frederick allegedly filled out and signed a written statement swearing that his statements were true.
At 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Julio Torres-Reyes went to the Bradford City Police station to report that his LG cell phone, which was worth about $100, was stolen the day before.
He told police that on Monday, he left his cell phone plugged in and charging in a friend’s apartment; he went to get it on Tuesday and was told that Frederick took it, according to the criminal complaint.
Court records stated that Frederick came in voluntarily for an interview, and he admitted he took the cell phone and had another person try to put phone minutes on it for him.
Frederick is charged in one case with theft by unlawful taking, a second-degree misdemeanor; and in the second case he’s charged with two counts of false reports, a second-degree misdemeanor and a third-degree misdemeanor; and one charge of statement under penalty, a third-degree misdemeanor.
Frederick is in McKean County Jail on a total of 10 percent of $4,000 bail, and he is scheduled to appear in Central Court on April 26.
