Woman threatened troopers, self with a machete, police say

A Liberty Township woman was charged after allegedly threatening to kill her neighbors, responding state troopers and herself.

According to state police at Rockview, troopers were dispatched at about 12:50 p.m. Jan 13 to the 100 block of Main Street in Blanchard regarding a complaint. Residents had advised that Brenda Pletcher, 63, had threatened them with a cast iron frying pan, reportedly screaming she “will kill every one of you (expletive) bastards.”

Troopers attempted to contact Pletcher at her residence, police said. When advised they needed to speak to her about an issue with her neighbors, Pletcher allegedly declined to speak to the troopers.

A few minutes later, police said Pletcher came to the door with a machete in her hand, repeatedly stating “she was going to kill the trooper.” Pletcher reportedly continued to make statements about killing the troopers and herself.

She was eventually taken into custody and transported to Mount Nittany Medical Center, police said. A machete with a 21-inch blade was reportedly recovered from the scene.

Pletcher was arraigned Monday before District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker, according to court documents, and charged with three misdemeanor counts each of terroristic threats and harassment by communications. Unsecured bail was set at $20,000.

A preliminary hearing is slated for Feb. 7.

This story was originally published February 1, 2018 at 1:20 PM with the headline "Woman threatened troopers, self with a machete, police say."