COALPORT – Three adults and six juveniles have been charged for their alleged involvement in a shots-fired incident that prompted Main Street in Coalport to be locked down in June.
The charges were announced by Clearfield County District Attorney William A. Shaw Jr. in a press release published on his Web site Tuesday afternoon.
Cole Brown and Jasiah Williams, both 18, and Charles Smith, 19, all of Indiana, Pa., plus four juveniles were charged Oct. 7 with felony riot and misdemeanor disorderly conduct.
Two other juveniles were charged with felony riot, possession of firearm by a minor and firearm not be carried without a license and related misdemeanor offenses.
According to the affidavit of probable cause, at 9:14 p.m. June 26, the adult trio arrived with several others and sought a fight with a Coalport resident.
The resident was located among a group of individuals outside of 531 Main St. Two juveniles from the trio’s group had ball bats, which were reportedly used during an altercation.
Two other juveniles were reportedly in possession of handguns that were discharged at the scene. Video surveillance from the Coalport Alliance Church was obtained as part of the investigation.
The charged juveniles will be scheduled for juvenile court and their identity will remain concealed by law, according to the online press release.
Brown, Williams and Smith were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James Glass. Preliminary hearings have been scheduled for centralized court Oct. 23.
“This has been a very intensive investigation by the state police to identify [the suspects] in this incident,” Shaw said in a statement. “I’m very aware of the issues facing Coalport Borough.
“I’m working very hard, along with state police … and can tell you more arrests are coming. With help from state police and concerned citizens, I’m going to clean up Coalport.”
Shaw also issued a stern warning to drug dealers and other criminals in the Coalport area. He said: “We know who you are, and you’re going to be arrested.”
Anyone with knowledge or information about a crime is urged to call Clearfield County Crime Stoppers at 800-376-4700. All calls to Crime Stoppers are confidential.
Anonymous tips can also be submitted by visiting the District Attorney’s Web site at “www.ClearfieldDA.org” and selecting “Report A Crime.”