Man accused in rampage
CLAY TWP — A drunken intruder wielding a baseball bat struck out after breaking into a township house and threatening to kill the homeowner and his family, authorities said.
The suspect, Jason A. McWilliams, 28, of Clay Township, according to state police, ended up in need of hospital treatment for injuries in the Monday evening altercation.
He later ended up in the Butler County Prison, charged with four felonies.
Troopers were called shortly before 6:30 p.m. for an apparent break-in. The victim told police that the defendant showed up at his home, making threats against him and his family, court documents said.
“McWilliams related he had friends waiting to come kill them,” documents said.
The suspect is accused of grabbing a baseball bat and walking into the house, without the homeowner's permission.
Charging documents did not indicate why McWilliams targeted the victim, and investigators could not be reached for comment this morning.
The homeowner said the defendant “started swinging the bat and continued to threaten him.”
The victim told the intruder to get out, police said, and the two men eventually got into a scuffle. McWilliams subsequently ran out of the house.
Troopers searched the area and found the defendant walking down the road. He smelled of alcohol and appeared intoxicated.
He also had injuries, suffered in the altercation with the homeowner. He was taken to Butler Memorial Hospital for medical treatment.
But at the hospital, documents said, McWilliams acted up, yelling and causing a disturbance.
After being treated, the handcuffed defendant was taken out of the hospital and placed in the back seat of a patrol car. He is accused of unbuckling his seat belt while being driven to the barracks.
Police, who had warned McWilliams to leave the belt buckled, stopped the car and had to gain control of him again, documents said.
He was arraigned Tuesday morning on felony charges of burglary, trespass, escape and attempted escape.
Additionally, he was arraigned on misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, resisting arrest, simple assault, disorderly conduct, and summary charges of harassment and public drunkenness.
He remains in the county prison on $50,000 bail.
