Man Rams District Court, Later Comes Back to Scene of Crime, Cops Say

The district court of Judge Jan Vislosky in Falls Township had an open door policy Friday morning. However it was not by choice.

Police say William Shaw, 52, of Levittown, backed his SUV into the front doors of the courthouse on New Falls Road near Fallsington shortly after 4 a.m. Thursday morning.

The impact of the SUV backing into the two doors that lead to a small, closed lobby area caused about $5,000 in damage, police said. The impact pushed the two doors in, broke windows and left traces of red paint behind.

A witness traveling past the district court at the time of the crash told police they saw the vehicle reverse into the building and then flee south on New Falls Road, according to court papers.

Around 10 a.m., Shaw returned to the scene of the crime and Sgt. Sven Beauchmin noticed the 52-year-old was not driving his familiar red 1998 Chevrolet Blazer, police said. Shaw had an odor of alcohol coming from his breath and became “deceptive” when Beauchmin asked where the Blazer was, according to court paperwork.

Detective Stephen Reeves interviewed Shaw back at the police station. Shaw reportedly admitted to purposely striking the courthouse because of ongoing court proceedings.

Police responded to an area behind a business on Falls-Tullytown Road and discovered the Blazer after Shaw told them it was there, court papers say. Reeves noted in court papers the SUV had damage to the driver-side rear taillight and quarter panel.

Due to the damage caused to the front of the courthouse, all court proceedings were canceled. However, the district court remained open and the clerks continued with the important work of the day.

The vehicle strike did not allow for entry to the district court offices in the building.

Shaw, dressed in a Duck Dynasty hat and clutching a soda, was arraigned Thursday afternoon before Judge Robert Wagner Jr. on charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, institutional vandalism, criminal mischief, obstruction of the administration of law, disorderly conduct and two less serious traffic offenses. The 52-year-old said he was innocent and said he could pay restitution in court, but Wagner said those statements should come at a later court hearing. Shaw was arraigned on 10 percent of $500,000 bail.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.