“Suspect” Man Arrested in Camouflage with Pit Bulls at Bellwood Antis School | WTAJ

BLAIR COUNTY, Pa. (WTAJ) — Police were called to Bellwood-Antis High School because a man was acting suspiciously outside the building, according to school officials.

Bellwood police said they arrived shortly after 8:30 a.m. Friday, April 28, and found the man, later identified as 39-year-old Daniel Joseph Richardson of Altoona. He was reportedly wearing full camouflage, a red beret and had two pit bulls with him that were not on a leash.

Richardson told police he was “special operations” and had been tasked with finding a fiber optic line, the indictment says. Police noticed that he also seemed agitated and asked the officers if they were willing to die for their country.

Police noted that they called an ambulance because they suspected his actions were a medical problem. During a conversation with Richardson, police said he became loud and exclaimed that people with guns were shooting up schools before asking if they would shoot him.

Richardson attempted to justify himself to an officer, asking, “Do you want to go?” before police attempted to arrest him, the criminal complaint states. He then allegedly resisted being handcuffed and was taken to the ground before attempting to grab an officer’s gun. He was ultimately taken to UPMC Altoona for evaluation.

According to the student-run BA Blueprint, the school was in a soft lockdown during the incident.

Richardson was charged Monday morning, May 6, with disarming law enforcement, reckless endangerment and resisting arrest. He was booked into the Blair County Jail on $100,000 bond.