Police break plot for murder
NASCAR collection allegedly being used to pay the hit manBy Wendy McCardle, wmccardle@altoonamirror.com
BEDFORD - An Everett father and son were arrested after a two-month investigation into an attempted murder solicitation in exchange for a NASCAR collection.
Allen Bridges, 53, and his son, Jacob, 19, were arrested Friday after an investigation by Pennsylvania State Police and the Bedford County Drug Task Force.
Allen Bridges, currently in Bedford County Jail on drug charges, was soliciting another individual to murder a witness scheduled to testify against him in his upcoming drug trial, police said.
In April, another inmate told police that Bridges offered a large quantity of NASCAR items if that inmate would put him in touch with someone who could ''feed [the witness] to the pigs'' and make the witness ''disappear forever.''
In May, Detective Steve Shelly posed as a potential hit man. When Bridges spoke to Shelly on the phone, he made arrangements for Jacob Bridges to make a down payment and provided Shelly with the son's phone number.
When Shelly met with Jacob Bridges, the son said he knew what the hit was about and specifically named the witness his father was trying to have killed.
After providing a large trash bag of NASCAR memorabilia to Shelly, Jacob Bridges then made a cutting motion with his hand across his throat.
District Attorney William Higgins said it was fortunate that the Bridges' plan was foiled before any harm was done.
''It is a credit to the officials at the Bedford County Jail, the Pennsylvania State Police and the Bedford County Drug Task Force that they were able to promptly respond to the defendant's efforts to kill a witness,'' Higgins said. ''Now this defendant has lost not only his prized and extensive collection of NASCAR memorabilia, but will spend a substantial portion of his life behind bars, and sadly, has brought his son down with him.''
Both men were arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Kathy Calhoun, with bail set at $500,000 for Allen Bridges and $200,000 for Jacob Bridges. A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday.
This is the second recent murder solicitation case in Bedford County.
In March, a known area drug dealer was charged with the same crime after allegedly writing a letter asking someone to murder a "snitch" in his case.
James W. Anderson, 27, was arrested on three separate occasions between December and February, all having to do with drug activity in the Everett area.
Anderson was arrested again after police discovered a letter he wrote while in Bedford County Prison, asking someone to give a lethal mixture of drugs and another substance to a person responsible for at least one of his arrests.
In the letter, Anderson requested that the victim appear to die from a drug overdose, police reports said. He still is awaiting trial.
Mirror Staff Writer Wendy McCardle is at 946-7520.
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metrohick
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07-22-08 8:43 AM
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Run, is the press supposed to ignore the stories where the criminal(s) involved have families? That wouldn't leave much to read about. I am sorry you are being discriminated against because of your family and no, that should not happen. Instead of blaming the media and those who will not give you a job, etc; why don't you place the blame right where it belongs.....on the family member(s) whose criminal actions brought all this on in the first place.
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runied
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07-21-08 11:22 PM
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Unfortunately I am a member of the family. This has ruined my living in Bedford County because of everything being published. Doesn't innocent family members have any rights? And this isn't the first time the media has put my life in jeopardy. We were robbed and our names, address, and a picture of our home was broadcast on channel 10. We sat up for months with a bat hoping someone else didn't come to do the same thing. This time it interferes with me finding employment, and I will be consulting an attorney to find out how I can protect our rights. The media needs to remember the innocent family they injure with their freedom of the press.
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metrohick
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07-20-08 11:48 AM
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Wow, bottom of the barrel people here. What is the world coming to when someone's life is worth taking in exchange for a Jeff Gordon bobble head? Sad. On a side note, Blah, you throw in those batteries and a gallon of gas and ya have a deal.
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orlandobob
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07-19-08 6:33 PM
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A southern religon !
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imovedaway
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07-19-08 12:12 PM
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Now that is funny..A trash bag full of NASCAR trash. All you got to do is whack somebody...Priceless
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SCHart
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07-19-08 10:42 AM
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yeah.....this is a actual sign that Jesus should be here soon... I am thinking we can't get much worse.
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Chuxspringer
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07-19-08 9:04 AM
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Have they ever considered going counterclockwise for variety?
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Chuxspringer
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07-19-08 8:55 AM
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R e d n e c k s
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Chuxspringer
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07-19-08 8:54 AM
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********, no necks AND long necks. Add fast cars going in small circles and you have a group that forms a fatal attraction. Not many brains needed for these folks. AHHHH Bedford County.
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BlahBlahBlah
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07-19-08 3:10 AM
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I have a sister in law that needs a good butt kickin'. If interested i can reward you with a broken camera and a dirty beach towell. (batteries not included for the camera, but i will throw in the detergent for the towell).
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TruthJuice
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07-19-08 1:47 AM
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Committing murder in exchange for a trash bag of Nascar memorabilia. . . . . . . . That writes itself in every way possible.
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