A 19-year-old Altoona man is behind bars today after police arrested him on charges that he raped a 16-year-old Tyrone girl Wednesday night on Pennsylvania Avenue.
According to police, the victim was at her friend’s home and two males were at the Mario’s Pizza on Pennsylvania Avenue when Brandon L. Thompkins began conversing with the victim. She told police he wanted her to show him where the bathroom was at her friend’s house so he could talk to her.
Once inside the bathroom, police said he began to kiss her, and when she told him “no,” he pushed her to the floor, pulled down her pants and engaged in sexual intercourse with her.
Police said Thompkins held her arms behind her head with his right hand and covered her mouth with his left hand.
“I don’t think he hurt her physically,” said Tyrone Police Chief Joe Beachem. “The rape was a violent act in itself, but I don’t think he hit her or anything like that.”
Beachem did say he didn’t think the girl knew Thompkins, but said he believed they had a mutual friend.
Police were summoned to the area of the crime shortly thereafter and spoke with the victim. She told police the perpetrator was a skinny male with dread locks and was wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt and a red and white hat. She also said the man was in a dark green car and was in the company of a man of Asian descent.
A second witness also confirmed the descriptions.
The victim, according to police, was taken to Tyrone Hospital by patrolman Jessica Barlick, and a rape kit was performed.
Meanwhile, patrolman Greg Ray was patrolling the area hoping to find a vehicle that matched the description offered by the two young women.
At around 1:30 a.m. yesterday, Ray spotted a green 1994 Infiniti J30, which matched the description, parked at Sheetz on Logan Avenue.
Police said the vehicle contained Thompkins, 19-year-old Stephen K. Holmberg of Altoona, 20-year-old Cercia Shovan Johnson of Altoona, and 18-year-old Ashley Pierce of Gallitzin.
Police said after speaking with the individuals, Thompkins was led from the passenger side of the vehicle and taken into custody for the rape. While searching Thompkins’ person, police discovered a Pennsylvania State Police Record of Sale form for a handgun in Thompkins back pocket.
Fearing for the safety of fellow officers and himself, Ray looked inside the vehicle and discovered Holmberg had his feet on what Ray believed was a gun case. Police said Holmberg refused to move his feet and had to be forcibly removed from the vehicle.
Inside the box, officers discovered a Hi-Point model JCP .40-caliber Smith and Wesson Pistol, which matched the paperwork found in Holmberg’s pocket.
After Holmberg was taken into custody, Ray asked the driver of the vehicle, Pierce, for the vehicle information. When she opened the glovebox, another handgun was found – a Hi-Point model 09 9mm Luger.
Barlick then arrived on scene and both Pierce and Johnson were removed from the vehicle. Pierce was removed without incident, but Johnson needed to be physically removed. When Johnson exited the vehicle, another gun was located under the driver’s seat at Johnson’s feet. This weapon was a Hi-Point model C 9mm.
Police said the pistols found in the glovebox and under the driver’s seat were loaded, however, the pistol located in the gun case was not.
When asked to identify themselves, the men gave false names to officers. Thompkins claimed he was Brian Jones and Holmberg claimed he was Adam Shaw. Both men were transported to the Altoona Police Department for positive identification.
Thompkins is charged with felony rape, felony sexual assault, felony aggravated assault, felony gun possession and misdemeanor crimes of indecent assault, two counts, and false identification to law enforcement. He was arraigned before District Magistrate Fred Miller and jailed in the Blair County Prison.
Holmberg, Pierce and Johnson were each charged with felony gun possession, possessing an instrument of crime and possession of prohibited weapons. In addition, Holmberg was charged with false identification to law enforcement. Each were arraigned by Magistrate Miller and incarcerated at BCP.
Yesterday, Magistrate Miller noted that he wasn’t aware if any of the defendants had hired legal counsel for their cases. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for July 1.
“This investigation is still on-going,” said Beachem, noting the a few of the suspects’ names were recently announced in an “All Points Bulletin” by the state’s Attorney General’s office. “More charges could come of this and our force, as well as a good number of other departments, are looking into these people and what they have been doing.”
Beachem said this arrest was key in protecting the residents of Tyrone Borough, as have the recent arrests made also involving violent activity.
“This is a really significant arrest in light of what happened here last week,” said Beachem. “There are some outside influences coming into our borough and this police force has an eye on what these people are doing.”
Last Tuesday at 11:40 p.m., police received a call from a concerned resident stating there were three men in Alley F near the old peanut factory with baseball bats and wearing ski masks.
Beachem said officers were on scene in a matter of minutes and arrested James Potts and William Helsel, both of Hollidaysburg, and Gerald Price of Altoona. He said Potts threw a pistol into a dumpster as soon as police arrived.
“They said they were there to beat someone up, but they wouldn’t say who or why,” said Beachem.
Potts was arrested on a gun charge and various other crimes, including loitering and prowling, disorderly conduct and possessing an instrument of crime. Helsel and Price were arrested on loitering charges. All three men were arraigned before Magistrate Miller and placed in BCP.
Tyrone Mayor Patricia Stoner said she is very proud that Tyrone Borough has such a dedicated police force.
“I’m very proud and the citizens of this borough should also be proud of what this police force does here in Tyrone,” said Stoner. “Much of the criminal activity taking place in the borough recently has been caused by people who don’t live in Tyrone.
“I applaud the police force for their perception and ability to single these people out and take them into custody, given the seriousness of the offenses,” said Stoner.
