Shooting incident yields counts
Geisler arraigned on attempted homicide charge for firing gun into car
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A Bedford man faces criminal attempted homicide and felony aggravated assault charges in relation to a shooting incident Feb. 10.
Steven Gregory Geisler, 30, was arraigned March 10 in front of Magisterial District Judge Tonya Osman, on two charges of attempted homicide, two felony charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and multiple misdemeanor charges of recklessly endangering another person, simple assault, criminal mischief, driving under the influence of controlled substance, propel missile into occupied vehicles and possessing an instrument of crime and summary charges of cruelty to animals.
Bail was denied, and Geisler was remanded to the Bedford County Correctional Facility.
According to court documents, state troopers were dispatched Feb. 10 to the 7900 block of Main Road, Snake Spring Township, Bedford County, for a report of a shooting.
Police said two victims reported they were traveling east on Route 30 from Bedford Borough when the driver made a right turn onto Route 326 and saw a silver Ford Explorer behind him. He told police the Ford was so close that he thought it would push his vehicle off the road.
The driver said he heard a noise like a gunshot and saw the Ford slow down to create space between their vehicles, then he heard another gunshot and felt something graze his right side, police reported.
The driver said the Ford turned onto Diehlfield Road while he pulled off by Cove Park Acres and called police. A bullet hole was found in the vehicle's license plate, police said, and a bullet hit the driver's side seat and struck his jacket. Upon further examination, it was found the bullet struck the man's jacket, creating a hole in his jacket and T-shirt, police reported.
In addition to the driver, a female passenger and two dogs were in the vehicle with the victim, police said. No one was injured in the incident.
On Feb. 11, police said the suspect's family called to the Bedford barracks to report Geisler told them he was high on methamphetamine and shot someone in the area of the "dog grooming place" (Stottlemyer Groom-n-Board) along Route 326.
The family reported to police that Geisler owns a silver Ford Explorer and the vehicle had bullet holes in it. When police located the vehicle, they reported the driver's side window was broken out and two bullet holes were discovered.
In addition, Geisler's family told police they recovered a Glock 9 mm pistol from him after he told them about the shooting.
His family told police Geisler said "someone is going to kill me" and that he said he shot at the victims because "they were after me," court documents report. In addition, the family told police that Geisler becomes paranoid when he is high on methamphetamine.
On Feb. 11, Geisler was taken to UPMC Bedford for an evaluation, and when he was being moved for transport to UPMC Somerset, Geisler escaped from staff and ran toward a parking lot, according to police. Medical staff as well as a UPMC security officer were able to locate him and were able to restrain him after several attempts during which he allegedly fought staff members.
Geisler faces felony aggravated assault as well as misdemeanor simple assault and disorderly conduct charges and a summary harassment charge in relation to that incident, according to court documents.
He was also arraigned on those charges March 10, court documents state.
Bail was denied because "no condition or combination of conditions will ensure compliance," the documents state.
Preliminary hearings for both cases are set for March 23 in Bedford County Central Court.