Matthew Confer — a Bradford man whose recent run-in with Bradford City Police launched an investigation into two officers — was jailed over the weekend on new criminal charges.
Confer, 25, of 153 Main St., Apt. 204, was arraigned Saturday before District Judge David Engman on charges of theft by unlawful taking, a third-degree felony; theft from a motor vehicle, a third-degree misdemeanor; and criminal mischief.
According to the criminal complaint, at 3:45 a.m. Saturday, someone went to the Bradford City Police Station to report that a man with a knife was trying to break into vehicles in the Tops Friendly Market parking lot.
At the scene, Officer Shelby Walters talked to four individuals who were standing in the parking lot. One told police that his brother had a video of a man attempting to break into a vehicle with a knife.
Walters watched the video, which allegedly showed someone trying to pick the lock of a vehicle with a knife, and recognized Confer from previous incidents, the complaint stated. She then saw the rear brake lights of a red Dodge sedan light up, and the witness told her that Confer was in that sedan.
Walters detained Confer with handcuffs and patted him briefly to make sure he did not have the knife or any other weapons on him; Confer told her multiple times that he was the owner of the vehicle and told her to look at his tag, court records stated.
Police ran the vehicle registration and found the car was not registered to Confer, according to court records. Officers asked him about the tag he kept referring to, and he showed them an ID badge that he had clipped to his shirt.
At this time, the witnesses alleged that Confer tried to break into a different vehicle, too; the driver’s side handle lock of that vehicle had been broken off but the vehicle was still locked. Walters went back to the Dodge sedan and found Confer’s knife, which had been inserted into the ignition, according to the complaint.
Confer was still claiming his name was on the tag, so Walters looked at the tag and saw that the tag belonged to a different male who was not Confer, court records alleged.
Confer was committed to McKean County Jail in lieu of $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for 9 a.m. today.
Confer was arrested earlier this month for allegations from a reported domestic incident by city officers Chief Butch Bartlett and Officer Matthew Gustin. Confer was also accused of running away from the officers, then assaulting them when they tried to take him into custody.
However, several people complained to the city after seeing a video of the arrest that a bystander posted to social media. Both officers have been placed on paid administrative leave while the city investigates alleged misconduct during the arrest.
Bradford City Mayor James McDonald did not respond to an inquiry Tuesday afternoon as to where the investigation stands.
All felony and misdemeanor charges against Confer in the assault case have since been dropped. Court records indicate that he instead faces one summary charge of harassment, and a summary trial is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. June 24 before District Judge Richard Luther.
