A tense afternoon on West Main Street ended in handcuffs when Mount Pleasant police arrested a 67-year-old man who allegedly parked his car to block the entrance of the town's KeyBank branch on March 5 and made threats that led staff to lock the doors. Employees shifted customers to drive-through service while officers investigated, and the suspect was taken into custody at the scene. The disruption was brief but interrupted normal banking on a busy downtown block and left staff shaken.
What police say
Officers responded last Thursday after reports of a man honking and blocking the KeyBank parking lot and found Harold Thomas inside his vehicle, according to police. While speaking with officers, Thomas allegedly threatened to "hurt and kill people," said he would "overtake the town and poison its water lines," and had told employees he would bring a rifle. Those statements prompted the branch to close its lobby and serve customers only through the drive-thru. The details and charges were reported by WTAE.
Bank response and local impact
The confrontation unfolded at the KeyBank branch on West Main Street in downtown Mount Pleasant, which lists a drive-thru on its official branch page. Employees told police the suspect had phoned the branch the day before to complain about withdrawals, and staff restricted service to the drive-through while officers conducted their investigation. Customers reported short lines but some delays while the lobby stayed closed, according to the KeyBank branch listing.
Charges and custody
Mount Pleasant police say Thomas, 67, is charged with terroristic threats and disorderly conduct and was remanded to the Westmoreland County Jail after failing to post bail. The charges are allegations at this stage, and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, as reported by WTAE.
Legal implications
Under Pennsylvania law, terroristic threats are defined as communicating a threat to commit violence, to cause an evacuation, or to otherwise create serious public inconvenience; the offense is generally a first-degree misdemeanor but becomes a third-degree felony if the threat causes occupants to be diverted from their normal operations. Because the branch is locked down and limited lobby service, that diversion element is one that prosecutors will assess when determining how to charge the case, according to 18 Pa.C.S.
What happens next
The case is expected to move through the local magistrate's court, where prosecutors will decide whether to pursue any enhanced charges at an arraignment. Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Mount Pleasant police, and Thomas remains in county custody pending further proceedings.
