Williamsburg Man Jailed on Risking a Catastrophe

A smoldering pan and a confrontation with police earned a Williamsburg man a perp walk through town on Tuesday morning, May 23.

According to the criminal complaint filed by Williamsburg Borough police, it was just after 7:30 a.m. when residents of an apartment building on the 300 block of E. Second Street flagged down an officer and told him there was a “smell” in the building. After arriving at the building, police determined the smell was something burning and that it was coming from the basement apartment occupied by Richard L. Lear Jr.

Police knocked on the door and a window but got no response. Fearing something was burning that could lead to a “catastrophic” event for the four apartments above Lear’s, police called in Williamsburg’s fire chief to help investigate. According to police, when they entered the apartment, they found smoke coming from the stove and a pan smoldering. Police said the pan had been smoldering for some time because it was blackened, and the stove was still on.

Police said Lear and a female were asleep on a couch directly under the window police were knocking on. Police said they had a hard time waking Lear because he was “so out of it” but once awake he seemed fine.

Police said the fire company was placing a large fan at the door of Lear’s apartment to air it out, but Lear shut the door and locked it. Police said Lear refused to open the door, so the fire company had to force entry. Lear allegedly refused to give police his identification and ordered everyone to leave. When told by police that he needed to provide his information, Lear allegedly pushed an officer’s shoulders and told him to “get out.” After being warned, police said Lear again pushed the officer’s shoulders and tried to push him out of the apartment.

With assistance from two firemen, police placed Lear into custody and walked him to the police station. Police said Lear remained uncooperative while being escorted to the station.

Lear is facing felony charges of aggravated assault and risking a catastrophe along with four misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person. He was arraigned by Hollidaysburg Magisterial District Judge Paula Aigner and committed to Blair County Prison on $75,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 6 in front of Aigner.