By Keith Gushard
MEADVILLE TRIBUNE
MEADVILLE —
Lee Coolidge never expected it — a set of handcuffs and a ride to jail.
“I didn’t know this was (expletive) happening,” Coolidge, 20, of Meadville yelled after the handcuffs had been placed around his wrists as he stood outside a mobile home in Asbury Manor East.
“Don’t cop an attitude with me,” his mother said to him. “You already owe me $400 from the last time.”
Coolidge was arrested Monday afternoon by the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office Bench Warrant Task Force for not paying child support ordered by Crawford County Court of Common Pleas.
As of 11 p.m., he was one of 10 persons arrested as part of a bench warrant sweep at 19 locations.
Lt. Neil Fratus of the county Sheriff’s Office coordinated Monday’s sweep and called it a success. Everyone apprehended was taken to Crawford County jail and incarcerated there until they attend a scheduled court appearance.
“It shows we’re out serving the warrants and we’re serious about it,” Fratus said. “We’re going full force.”
Earlier this month, Crawford County President Judge Anthony Vardaro and Sheriff Nick Hoke publicly warned there would be an unannounced warrant sweep coordinated by the sheriff’s office sometime after “amnesty week” offered by the court had concluded.
From Aug. 16 through 21, Crawford County Court of Common Pleas had offered amnesty to approximately 175 individuals who were non-violent offenders with outstanding bench warrants filed against them.
Those on the list were permitted to appear any time in court that week without being arrested or jailed in order to make arrangements to either pay in full or agree to a payment plan for outstanding fines, costs and restitution owed. County court even stayed open until 7 p.m. on Wednesday of that week to accommodate persons who worked during normal weekday hours.
But only 10 non-violent offenders took advantage of the program, clearing only 12 of the bench warrants.
Late Monday afternoon and into the evening, the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office Bench Warrant Task Force took to the streets in and around Meadville, Titusville, Conneautville, Springboro and Linesville to enforce a list of 27 bench warrants.
The task force was briefed at the courthouse in Meadville by Sheriff Nick Hoke and Chief Adult Probation Officer Nick Loiacona before dividing into three teams — Meadville, Titusville and western Crawford County.
“Safety, safety, safety,” Hoke said in reminding task force members to keep themselves, those being sought and the public safe during the sweep. “These are just mainly cost and fine warrants, but even those types can be dangerous.”
“Going to work is important,” Loiacona said. “But everyone coming home safe is more important.”
Before heading out, officers were suited up in protective vests and given lists of locations where those being sought Monday could be found. If a person wasn’t there, authorities still asked for information from neighbors about the person’s potential whereabouts.
The task force had 16 officers from the sheriff’s office, Crawford County Adult Probation and the U.S. Marshal’s Service out. They were aided at times by officers from Meadville and Titusville police and other municipal departments, plus Pennsylvania State Police.
Keith Gushard can be reached at 724-6370 or by e-mail at kgushard@meadvilletribune.com.
