On Tuesday, January 31, 2017, Officers from the West Hempfield Township Police Department, responded to the Speedway located on 1792 Columbia Avenue, Columbia, PA 17512, for a fight.
Officers learned that an adult male, Walter Smith, had kept asking the Speedway clerk for her phone number, and asking her wheither or not she liked him. The clerk became nervous due to Smith's persistence.
The clerk then called a friend and the friend's husband, Clarence McMinn, had responded to the store. Clarence arrived at the store and tried to get Smith to leave. A physical altercation broke out between Smith and McMinn, in the store, and during the struggle C. McMinn slashed Smith's arm with a survival knife that he was carrying on his person.
The officers reported that Smith was found sitting near the gas pumps bleeding when they arrived on the scene.
The officer reported that both males involved in the altercation were transported to the LGH for treatment of non life threatening injuries.
The West Hempfield Township Police Department, after consulting with the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office, will file Simple assault charges against both parties, at MDJ Miles Bixler's Office, in Columbia, PA 17512.
All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Incident Date:
Wednesday, February 1, 2017 - 10:19pmCase Number:
2017-WH-00216Location:
1792 Columbia Avenue
Columbia, PA 17512
Why would the clerk involve a friend rather than call police? Makes zero sense.
ReplyDeletei agree. she should have called 911. what a shame. probably trying not to over react and now her friend is going to be charged.
ReplyDeleteShe could have put customers in jeopardy, definitely should have called the police. Very poor judgement.
DeleteThe clerk asked a customer that came into the store for help by passing a note with the woman's change. The woman called her husband thinking the presence of a man would be able to convince the man to leave. Since her repeated attempts failed. As I understand it, policy of store note to involve police while person still in store, thinking that would put the clerks in danger. The fight did not break out, until Mr. Smith approached the other woman. Hind sight is always 100%, but maybe it happened so fast that they reacted instinctively at the time. I would hope that all men would help a woman if in distress. Also the clerk, as I understand it is young and only did what she thought she could without getting hurt. She was terrified of the man.
ReplyDelete