JERSEY SHORE - A 24-year-old man "depressed and angry" was arrested late Thursday night on charges of allegedly threatening to "blow up" the gas pumps at the Minit Mart on Allegheny Street with Molotov cocktails, according to Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police Sgt. Nathan DeRemer.
"After blowing up the gas station, Matthew Wayne Bachman would make his way to the (nearby) Tiadaghton Mall to cause major destruction," DeRemer said in an affidavit.
Police suspect that Bachman planned to barricade himself in the complex and possibly engage in a gun battle with officers, police said
Article Photos
PAUL GARRETT/Sun-Gazette Correspondent
Matthew Wayne Bachman, middle, is escorted to a waiting police car to be taken to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $400,000 bail. Escorting officers are Patrolman Jordan Mahosky, left, and Patrolman Marlin Angelo, of the Tiadaghton Valley Regional Police.
The alleged plot came to the attention of law enforcement on Thursday afternoon after Bachman's roommate, alarmed and concerned about Bachman's thoughts and plans, came to the police station.
John Thompson, who lives in an apartment at the rear of 1108 Allegheny St., allowed Bachman to move in with him late last year since he "needed a place to stay," DeRemer said.
Thompson had noticed that Bachman, employed at a nursing home in the region, was "becoming more angry and depressed," DeRemer said.
Police said Bachman was upset that a woman, with whom he had a relationship, had recently filed a protection from abuse order against him.
Thompson told investigators that "Bachman would repeatedly talk to him about hatching a plan to cause a terroristic act in the borough. Bachman talked of blowing up the (Minit Mart) gas station," DeRemer said.
The business is located at 815 Allegheny St.
"Many of the conversations the two men had in the last two weeks centered around Molotov cocktails," DeRemer said police were told.
Thompson became concerned Wednesday night when Bachman "came home with two bags of glass bottles," DeRemer said.
"What's with the bottles," Thompson asked his roommate, DeRemer said.
"Bachman then gave Thompson 'a look,' which Thompson interpreted as meaning 'You know what they are for,' " the officer said.
Officers obtained a search warrant to go through the apartment on Thursday night and seized quite a few long rifles, handguns and ammunition along with materials that could be used to make a bomb, according to police.
Assisting with the search was a state police dog trained at detecting bomb materials as well as bomb technicians from the Penn State University Task Force.
A local business, along with a mother and her two children who live in a close apartment, temporarily were relocated until the area was deemed safe.
Arrested at his place of employment, Bachman was arraigned before District Judge Jon E. Kemp on charges of threatening to use weapons of mass destruction, terroristic threats and threatening to use incendiary devices. He was committed to the Lycoming County Prison in lieu of $400,000 bail.
