CLEARFIELD – A Curwensville man is facing charges after allegedly being found in possession of several illegal firearms that he told police he accepted as payment for drugs.
Jeremy Michael Sipe, 40, has been charged by Officer Jon Walker of the Lawrence Township police with four felony counts each of possession of firearms prohibited and firearms not to be carried without license; 11 felony counts of receiving stolen property; and one felony count of flight to avoid apprehension/punishment.
Sipe waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail. His bail is set at $50,000 monetary.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, Walker was on routine patrol March 6 when he saw the driver of a dark-colored vehicle execute an “aggressive” maneuver to turn into the Rodeway Inn from the Woodland direction.
He obtained the vehicle’s registration information while a male wearing a blue sweatshirt exited and quickly rushed inside the reception area. The vehicle was registered to a Reynoldsville male whose license was under suspension and who was wanted in Jefferson County.
Walker went inside and spoke with the front desk receptionist to find out what room the male was in. He proceeded to the room, 210, and knocked on the door; however, no one answered it.
Prior to that, Walker saw a female come down from upstairs, she was in the vicinity of the room and used the back stairwell. Walker knew it was a frequent area for drug use, he looked around and believed the female entered into a room downstairs.
He waited for the female to come back out, which she did and he got behind her. He whistled to get her attention and when he made contact with her, she immediately started crying. She repeatedly commented “she is down there” (in the downstairs room).
Walker asked the female who she was talking about and she indicated Dana Krause, who was wanted for “not going back to jail.” He went downstairs with her, but Krause wouldn’t answer. Walker confirmed through Clearfield County Control that Krause was in fact wanted through the Sheriff’s Office.
Assisting officers were able to make contact with the tenants in room 210, where Amber Johnston and Alen Erskine were staying, and both of whom were wanted by different departments.
Officers located numerous items of drug paraphernalia and suspected stolen firearms. Krause stated she didn’t really know these people but provided their names and nicknames.
Krause also identified Sipe as having brought the weapons inside the room. Officers collected evidence from the scene and Chief Douglas Clark alerted Clearfield-based state police.
At this time, Clark noticed a male was watching from the cul-de-sac to the rear of Lock Haven University. Krause again told police that it was Sipe, who had brought in the weapons and stolen items.
Walker used binoculars and determined it was the same male who had exited the vehicle earlier. Clearfield Borough Police Chief Vincent McGinnis and Assistant Chief Greg Neeper approached the male in their patrol vehicle; however, when he saw them, he fled on foot to the rear of the university.
An inspection of Sipe’s vehicle allegedly turned up several weapons on the front-seat on the passenger’s side, including a loaded handgun and a shotgun. The weapons were collected by Clark and a state trooper, then logged in as evidence at the township police station.
Sipe was later taken into custody by the state police on April 8. He had been wanted for his failure to appear for sentencing court, according to the affidavit.
During an interview with Walker, Sipe allegedly admitted that he had traded the weapons and other stolen goods as payment for drugs. He was subsequently advised that given his criminal record, he’s not permitted to possess firearms, which he indicated he was fully aware of.
Walker also learned the firearms had been taken from a Grampian residence, which is being investigated by the Clearfield-based state police.
