A Bradford man was arraigned Friday on allegations stemming from four separate incidents.
Walter L. Dennis Jr., 45, is charged with theft by unlawful taking — movable property, a third-degree felony; two counts of manufacture, delivery, or possession with intent to manufacture or deliver, both felonies; intentional possession of a controlled substance and use/possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors in the most recent incident. Additionally, he’s charged with disorderly conduct, a third-degree misdemeanor, in a second case; use/possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor, in a third case; and possession of a small amount of marijuana and use/possession of drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors, in a fourth case.
According to the criminal complaints, on March 2, a woman called and reported that she witnessed Dennis take a package from the porch of a residence on South Center Street. The package was later discovered to contain a DVD of “The Greatest Showman.”
At approximately 3 p.m., two Bradford City police officers saw that Dennis was walking east in front of the Bradford Family YMCA. They made contact with Dennis and inquired about the theft of the DVD, according to the criminal complaint. After admitting that he may have taken a package, Dennis was told to bring the DVD to the City of Bradford Police Department within the next 30 minutes, which he did not do.
Police reports indicate that at 3:50 p.m., an individual called and reported that she saw a black male speaking with officers in front of the YMCA. The caller stated that after the police drove away, the male picked up a bag out of a snow bank and walked away. Additionally, she stated that she was worried that it was drug related.
At 6:50 p.m., an officer received a call from Police Chief Mike Ward, who was off-duty at the time. Ward stated he had just witnessed Dennis walking near Country Fair. An officer detained Dennis, who had the stolen DVD in his hand, according to the complaint. As he was being placed under arrest, officers allegedly located a small baggie of marijuana as well as a glass pipe with residue.
Complaints also state that on May 25 at approximately 6:41 a.m., Bradford City Police were dispatched to 91 Congress St. for an unconscious person laying on the floor in the hallway. After arriving on scene, police approached and identified the black male to be Dennis laying on the floor. Dennis stated that he was just sleeping there as his friends would not answer the door. After Dennis gave the officer permission to search him, the officer allegedly located three ripped clear baggies with white residue, seven baggies with the corners ripped off and a metal crack pipe with burnt residue. At this time, Dennis was placed under arrest. While at the Bradford City Police Department, Dennis allegedly advised police that the three baggies contained crack cocaine and the seven other baggies contained marijuana.
Then, on July 4, complaints indicate Bradford City Police were dispatched to the area of Jefferson Street and Leland Avenue for a report of a male walking around with a hammer, threatening people. Upon arrival, the male who was identified as Dennis (a.k.a. Ghost), was no longer on the scene.
During this time, there were multiple 4th of July parties going on in the area with a large number of people in the area, including young children. Police reports indicate the officer spoke to various witnesses who stated that Dennis walked into a Jefferson Street residence multiple times. Witnesses also indicated that after a group of people went to confront him about the incident, he then allegedly picked up a hammer and started walking towards them stating he was going to get a gun and more people and come back and kill the resident of Jefferson Street.
The most recent criminal complaint stated that on July 22, Bradford City police officers were dispatched to Jackson Avenue for a report of a theft of a motor vehicle, described as a gold 2005 Nissan Murano, belonging to William B. Harris. The vehicle at the time of the theft was in the possession of Harris’ son, Bretton.
According to the complaint, Bretton Harris stated that at the time of the theft, he was parked on Jackson Avenue and was attempting to jumpstart another vehicle. After going into a residence to get jumper cables, he witnessed a black male later identified as Dennis get into the driver seat of the vehicle and drive away.
At 7:07 p.m., Bradford City Police were dispatched to Jackson Avenue for a report that the vehicle had been returned and Dennis went into a residence. Upon arrival, officers were informed that Dennis had left out the back of the residence and was on Delaware Avenue, according to the complaint. Dennis was eventually located on Petrolia Street inside a residence at the top of the stairs. Officers checked the area where Dennis was located and found a baseball bat sized bag with various white substances packages separately in smaller bags inside of it.
According to police reports, the largest of the bags contained a white crystal substance that weighed approximately 41 grams, the second bag also contained a white substance that had an approximate weight of 13 grams. Neither substance had a presumptive positive NIK test, so both were presumed to be counterfeit controlled substances. The third bag contained approximately 9 grams of fentanyl.
Inside the recovered vehicle, police allegedly found three cut burnt straws, a broken glass pipe with residue and a small piece of tinfoil, which contained suspected methamphetamine, according to police.
During an interview with Dennis, he told police that he did take the car but he had permission to take it earlier in the day, the complaint stated. Dennis also stated that he gave Bretton Harris, whose name he did not know, $80 in cash and a little bit of marijuana.
When asked about the drugs, Dennis allegedly told police that everything in the bag that was located at Petrolia Street was fake. Additionally, he stated that it was bath salts but that it also wasn’t his. He did say that the sweatshirt that was located in the same area was his.
Dennis is currently incarcerated in McKean County Jail in lieu of $45,000 monetary bail. Court Dockets show Dennis has two upcoming preliminary hearings scheduled, one for July 28 before District Judge David R. Engman and one on , one for July 28 before District Judge David R. Engman and one on Aug. 11 before District Judge Dominic A. Cercone Jr.
