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A Pennsylvania grandmother was arrested after allegedly calling the police and threatening "white witchery" if they did not drop felony charges against her grandson.
Celestia Barker III, 74, is accused of calling the Hollidaysburg Police while in the hospital on March 27.
She allegedly told the officer handling her grandson's case that she "practices witch activities" and requested the charges against her grandson be dropped, according to court documents obtained by The Altoona Mirror. In fact, in 2018, several studies indicated there may be at least 1.5 million people who identify as witches across the country, an increase from 8,000 in 1990.
Barker's grandson is facing felony and misdemeanor charges in a drug case.
She also threatened that the officer would be in "jeopardy" if the charges against her grandson were not dropped. She brought up various examples such as falling down the stairs but said she was just "making statements" and not threats, WTAJ reported.
Threatening an officer is illegal and can result in felony charges if the individual was aware they were threatening an on-duty officer.
After the officer hung up, Barker called the department numerous times and called another county dispatch three additional times, according to court records. During one call that lasted 23 minutes, Barker allegedly said she would use "white witchery" if the felony charge wasn't dropped.
When asked by Pennsylvania State Police, Barker admitted to making those statements before asking if there was any law against her actions.
Officers told her what she did was illegal, Barker allegedly told the trooper that they "best be looking over their shoulder" and once again said she practices "white witchery," WTAJ reported.
In one of three different voicemails that Barker left for the Hollidaysburg Police Department, State police heard her allegedly tell an officer that there might be "some consequences" if the charges are not dropped.
Barker now faces a felony charge of threatening unlawful harm to influence the judicial process.
She was released on a $10,000 bail and is due in court for a preliminary hearing on April 26.
Newsweek reached out to the Pennsylvania Police but did not receive comment in time for publication.
This is not the first time an individual was in the news for threatening or mistreating an on-duty police officer.
On Wednesday the superintendent of a Massachusetts school district was arrested after allegedly sending threatening messages to a police chief candidate.
In January, an Oklahoma woman was arrested after allegedly becoming argumentative before hurling a puppy at an officer. The woman attempted to escape the scene but was arrested after backup was called in.
In a separate incident in Florida, a man was arrested following a road rage incident after he told police he would "cut off their heads and eat their eyes and tongues." The man was arrested and faced eight criminal charges.
About the writer
Samantha Berlin is a Newsweek reporter based in New York. Her focus is reporting on trends and human-interest stories. Samantha ... Read more