A.M.BRIEFING: Friday

Airport parking user leaves $411 bill unpaid

Penn State police reported someone left the parking area of the University Park Airport Wednesday without paying a $411 bill for parking.

This happened around 1:30 p.m., police reported.

The airport’s Web site says parking is limited in lots for long-term and short-term parking, operated by Republic Parking Systems.

The weekly charge is $40.

Glasses will ramp up fireworks experience

Spectators at the Central PA 4th Fest can get a unique view of the fireworks with glasses courtesy of the Penn State department of astronomy and astrophysics. “Spectators will see the colors of the fireworks spread out in a rainbow,” said Brendan Mullan, a graduate student in astronomy.

The glasses will be available from 4 to 8 p.m. at the astronomy department’s Founders’ Mall table at the Bryce Jordan Center.

Man in briefs jailed after jaunt through school

A Coatesville man found wandering the halls of the Radio Park Elementary School on Thursday, almost naked and picking up items along the way, is in jail, charged with felony criminal trespass. State College police say Stephen N. Fletcher, 23, was walking around inside the school in nothing but underwear and a necklace, carrying scissors and pencils.

A maintenance worker found Fletcher and called police. Officers later found Fletcher in the school’s lobby looking for “free” materials on the table. When police asked Fletcher what he was doing, he said, “setting up for the event,” court papers say. “He then stated it wasn’t an ‘event, it was more of a gathering.’ ” Police asked him why he was wearing only briefs, and he said he was “preparing to take a shower, and pointed down the hallway.”

“There are no showers in that location,” police wrote.

District Judge Jonathan Grine arraigned Fletcher Thursday and sent him to jail on $10,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing July 8.

Judges dismiss cases as time limit expired

Two criminal cases were dismissed by county judges this week because the time limit that guarantees a defendant a speedy trial expired.

In one case, Justin S. Thompson, 26, of Brackney, was charged in November 2005 with forging a check, but wasn’t arraigned until February 12. His attorney, First Assistant Public Defender Deb Lux argued before Judge Bradley Lunsford that there was no evidence the crime happened in Centre County, and no reason for a delay in filing the criminal complaint.

Lunsford dismissed the case prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Carolyn Larrabee.

In the second case, also prosecuted by Larrabee, Charles M. Ramsey, 47, had DUI charges dismissed by Judge Thomas King Kistler the day Ramsey was scheduled for a non-jury trial because more than 1,300 days passed from the time the complaint was filed until he was to stand trial on the charge.

Ramsey had been charged in a crash on U.S. Route 322 in which he crashed his motorcycle. District Attorney Michael Madeira couldn’t be reached for comment.

State College bars cited for playing loud music

Two State College bars have been cited by the state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement for having music playing so loud it could be heard outside the premises, a violation of liquor code. The Cell Block, at 420 E. College Ave., was cited twice — May 14 and May 17. The Deli, Saloon, and Inferno bars, all owned and operated out of 101-113 Heister St. and 340-342 E. College Ave., were cited May 16, police said.

The charge will be brought before an administrative law judge who could impose penalties ranging from $50 to $5,000, can impose a license suspension or revocation, or mandate training.