CLEARFIELD – The third adult charged for allegedly being involved in a shots-fired incident in Coalport back in June was scheduled for court on Wednesday.
Cole Brown and Jasiah Williams, both 18, and Charles Smith, 19, all of Indiana, Pa., have been charged by Trooper Matthew Peacock of the Clearfield-based state police with felony riot and misdemeanor disorderly conduct. Additionally, four juveniles have been charged with the same pair of offenses.
Two other juveniles have been charged with felony riot, possession of firearm by a minor and firearm not to be carried without a license and misdemeanor terroristic threats, propulsion of missiles onto roadway, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.
Smith waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Wednesday during centralized court at the Clearfield County Jail, and his case was transferred to county court for further disposition.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred at 9:14 p.m. June 26 when two groups confronted each other outside of 531 Main St., in Coalport, according to the affidavits of probable cause filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge Jim Glass.
Because gunshots were fired and suspects were still at large, borough officials placed the town on lockdown and urged residents to stay inside their homes, according to previously-published GANT News reports.
Brown, Williams and Smith were among a group that reportedly went to Coalport looking to engage in a fight with a known resident. He was confronted along with another group of individuals, state police said.
An altercation then broke out between the two groups, according to the affidavits of probable cause. Two juveniles in the defendants’ group allegedly used bats while two others allegedly fired guns.
On Sept. 14, Peacock interviewed a known juvenile involved with the incident. He said on the date in question, he was at a friend’s house with eight others, including the three adult defendants.
He said the group made plans to go to Coalport with the intent to fight a kid there. He said a fight didn’t occur, but the two groups did throw objects at each other.
The juvenile told the trooper two juveniles pulled out guns and fired them into the air. As he fled the area, he said more shots were fired.
On Oct. 3, Peacock interviewed a second juvenile at the Indiana-based state police barracks. He said on June 26, he was in Coalport to “back up” friends in a fight, and they were armed with “bats and guns.”
As part of the investigation, state police obtained surveillance from the Coalport Alliance Church. The video was shown to the juvenile who identified every individual, including the three adult defendants and himself.
On Oct. 3, Peacock also interviewed Brown, who said a known juvenile asked him to go to Coalport because he had a problem with someone. He reportedly admitted that he “went like an idiot.”
The trooper also showed Brown the surveillance video taken from the church, and he identified five juveniles, two adults as well as himself.
Brown said he saw two juveniles with guns when they first got out of the car down the street. He identified the juveniles who fired the guns, including the one who wore a mask.
