Williamsburg Woman Charged With Making Threats to Police

A Williamsburg woman is facing charges after police said she made threats against a police officer who had filed drug-related charges against her grandson.

According to Hollidaysburg State Police, on March 26, Celestia R. Barker, 74, called the Hollidaysburg Borough Police Department and asked to speak to the officer handling her grandson’s case. When the officer spoke with Baker, police said she asked if he “had it in his heart” to drop the felony drug charges against her grandson.

Police said the officer told Barker that he hadn’t given any thought to it and that he would have to check with the District Attorney’s office about the status of the case. Barker told the officer that she practices “witch” activities and that the officer would be in jeopardy if he didn’t drop the charges.

Police said Barker told the officer that she could make him feel like someone was following him and said he could fall down the stairs, believing someone pushed him. When the officer told Barker that threatening a police officer is a crime, she allegedly said she wasn’t threatening him, but was only making statements.

After the officer hung up on Barker, police said she called the police station seven times from her cellphone. Police said Barker called the Blair County 911 center the next day to try to reach the officer and made similar threats to the 911 operator.

The following day, Barker called the Blair County 911 center again and told an operator that she was attempting to contact the police officer because he arrested her grandson on felony charges. According to police, Barker told the 911 operator that she told the police officer that she would do “white witchery” and that he better be careful going down steps because someone might be behind him and push him or that he might be in a car accident. Barker allegedly told the 911 operator that she was only giving the officer an ultimatum and that if he didn’t drop the felony charges against her grandson there would be “consequences to pay.” Police said Barker called the 911 center again later that day and was told they could not transfer her call to the officer.

Police said Barker made three calls to the 911 center, tying up dispatchers for a total of 48 minutes.

Police said they contacted Barker by phone and when asked if she made statements regarding potential harm to the officer, she replied, “Yes, I did do that. Is there a law against that?”

Barker then told police that she has special powers that most people don’t have and that she can work “white witchery.” Police said Barker told them that she was not threatening the officer, just “giving him an ultimatum.”

On March 28, police said Barker left three voicemails at the Hollidaysburg Borough police station. In the voicemails, police said Barker again demanded the charges against her grandson be dropped and that she practices “white witchery” and that the officer needs to “watch his back.”

Barker is facing a felony count of making threats to law enforcement, a misdemeanor count of misuse of 911 and summary counts of harassment and disorderly conduct.

She was arraigned by Altoona Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Jones and released on $10,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 26, before Martinsburg Magisterial District Judge Andrew Blattenberger.