Man charged in vet hospital incident

BY STACI WILSON

The state police emergency response team (SERT) was called to the Southtown Veterinary Hospital, Saturday, May 7, after a Wyalusing area man allegedly stole a vehicle in Bradford County and drove to the South Montrose animal clinic.

Joshua Ryan Whitehead, 25, was charged by Tpr. Mark Mulvey with receiving stolen property and criminal trespass in connection with the incident.

Cpl. William Wagner said the SERT was called as a precautionary measure and said that no one at the clinic was taken hostage during the incident.

According to the affidavit, state police at Gibson received a report from the Towanda station that a 2010 Chevrolet pick-up truck had been taken from the Leraysville area.

The truck owners advised police that a 12-gauge shotgun was inside the vehicle, which heightened the police alert.

An in-vehicle security system located the truck in the South Montrose area.

Just before 8 a.m., a burglar alarm was activated at the veterinary clinic. Police then found the vehicle parked behind the hospital.

State police at the scene spoke to two of the vet hospital employees who reported a man who identified himself as Joshua Whitehead arrived with his dog and told them his dog was covered in porcupine quills.

The employees exited the building and told police Whitehead had remained inside.

They also told police Whitehead had been asked to leave the vet hospital but failed to do so.

According to Wagner, police located Whitehead a short time later a considerable distance from the vet hospital.

He was arraigned by District Judge Suzanne Brainard.

Whitehead is being held on $50,000 bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for May 16.