Two criminal cases against a Bradford man — accused in two separate alleged incidents at Bradford Regional Medical Center — were bound to McKean County Court.
A preliminary hearing for Richard E. Lewis, 45, of 127 Kennedy St., Apt. 1, was held Wednesday before District Judge Dominic Cercone.
Lewis is charged in one case with terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor; and in the second with resisting arrest, a second-degree misdemeanor, and disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor.
According to the criminal complaint in one case, at 1:23 p.m. Jan. 30, Bradford City Police were dispatched to BRMC for a report of a male being violent in the emergency room. The ER had to be put on lockdown because Lewis was allegedly yelling and being aggressive with staff.
Lewis told one Bradford City police officer, “If you touch me you’re dead,” the complaint stated.
Officers had to use force to get him into custody, and he made several threats to officers and staff while police escorted him around the hospital, court records indicate.
Then, between April 9 and 11 at BRMC, Lewis made threats one at least four separate occasions, and the police were called for three of them, according to court records.
The complaint indicates that allegations over these days include threatening to blow up the hospital; screaming at a medical provider that the provider “was dead,” which staff took as a threat; and telling a registered nurse he would kill her while making shooting motions with his finger.
Lewis remains in McKean County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail.
A Bradford man accused of disturbances with police and medical providers had a threat charge added to the case against him.
Michael J. Dowell, 46, of 56 Garlock Hollow, waived a preliminary hearing Wednesday that was to be held before District Judge Dominic Cercone.
Since the case was filed, prosecutors added an additional charge: terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor. Dowell is also charged with disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor.
According to court records, at 11:52 a.m. April 14, a Bradford City Ambulance was called to assist Foster Township police and a mental health delegate for a man — Dowell — who was being involuntarily admitted to BRMC for psychological reasons.
The complaint stated that he threatened to burn his house down and kill the officers on scene.
Dowell was “aggressive toward all emergency personnel from contact” by medical staff, the complaint stated and was “mildly combative and noncompliant” when they were transferring him from a wheelchair to a stretcher, court records stated.
During the ride to the hospital, Dowell continuously swore and threatened a police officer and medical workers, court records indicated.
Then, at 3:21 p.m. that same day, Bradford City Police were dispatched to the BRMC emergency room for a disruptive patient. At the hospital, they found Dowell being “verbally aggressive toward the nurses” in a treatment room, according to court records. When police arrived, he allegedly urged officers to fight him.
Dowell, who was committed to McKean County Jail without bail when he was arraigned, has since been released from jail — with conditions — on $25,000 unsecured bail, court records indicate.
