Lock Haven police charge city man left homeless by fire with trespass

LOCK HAVEN, PA – On Thursday of last week a Lock Haven man was among those who had to flee their E. Main Street home when an explosion and fire set the residence ablaze. On Thursday of this week, city police announced the arrest of that man, 32-year-old Chadwick Thomas Elliot. A police report filed through ClintonCrimewatch said Elliot and Donald Mincer III, 32, of Mill Hall, have been charged with burglary, criminal conspiracy – burglary, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy – trespass, theft, criminal conspiracy – theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

The police report said that on Dec. 21 of last year the two men were found in a residence in the 700 block of E. Main Street “when they did not have permission to be there.” Police said arrest warrants were obtained for them and last Friday, the day after the fire, when the arrest warrant was served on Elliot, he resisted arrest and allegedly attempted to bite a police officer. As a result, they said, Elliot also faces charges of resisting arrest.

Elliot was among five people who had fled the duplex fire at 723-725 E. Main Street last Thursday night and later was seen conversing with Lock Haven police officers and also spoke briefly with a Record reporter; he declined to give The Record his name.

The fire caused $80,000 damage, its cause officially undetermined. It had started in a shed behind the building and fire officials said it was possible a propane heating unit in the shed may have been knocked over by the strong winds at the time.