David A. Bruswitz, 59, of Scranton, charged with breaking and entering two residences in Clearfield and resisting arrest, waived his right to a preliminary hearing yesterday before U.S. District Judge Michael Morris in the Central Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on May 14, Clearfield Regional Police were notified that Bruswitz, who was a mental health patient at Penn Highlands Clearfield, had fled the hospital and was reported to be wearing gowns hospital blues.
Later that day, at 5:38 p.m., police received a report that a man had broken into a home and was being held at gunpoint.
Police arrived at the Textile Avenue residence and found numerous people waiting outside. They pointed police to a shirtless man wearing blue pants about 100 yards away running down Hannah Street.
Police lost sight of the man as he ran down Holmes Avenue. Police then received a second call that a shirtless man in blue clothing had entered a residence along Barclay Street.
Police located Bruswitz and believing he might have a gun, the police officer drew his firearm and ordered Bruswitz to the ground.
He refused and police tackled Bruswitz to the ground, but he continued to struggle and it took three police officers to take him into custody.
Police spoke with the victims at the Textile Avenue residence. The couple said they and their 3-year-old son had arrived home at approximately 5:30 p.m. after being out the day before.
They were downstairs when a man without a shirt and hospital pants came down their stairs.
The victim said he pulled out his gun and ordered her to leave, which she did, and police arrived almost immediately afterward. The victim showed police an upstairs closet where a dresser fell. A blue hospital shirt was also left on the bed.
Police believe Bruswitz was home most of the time he left the hospital, as there were no reports of him until residents returned home.
Police spoke to the victims on Barclay Street. The couple said they were sitting in their dining room when their sliding glass door opened and a man in blue hospital pants walked in.
The victim told him to leave and the man asked him to call 911 before leaving the residence. Police then confronted the man outside his residence.
Bruswitz is charged with two counts of criminal trespass to the structure: third degree felonies; resisting arrest — second-degree misdemeanor; and two counts of disorderly conduct: misdemeanors of the third degree
He remains incarcerated in the Clearfield County Jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.
Bruswitz was represented by attorney Kenneth Pennington. The Commonwealth was represented by First Assistant District Attorney Leanne Nedza.
