Roland Merritt could spend five years in prison if found guilty. Photo. Talata Sheriff

A Bucks County judge has set a $75, 000.00 bonds for a Liberian man arrested Friday night in Bristol, Pa after he pulled out a loaded gun and pointed it at a crowd. The 32 year old man was charged Monday with terroristic threats and driving on a suspended license, according to his charge sheet.

The man identified as Roland Merritt of Bensalem was arrested on Rockview Drive, near the new Bucks County Community College, as he set off on a wide drive in search of his apparent target, his ex’s new live-in boyfriend, the witnesses said.

People familiar with Merritt told FPA that he recently married his new girlfriend in a court ceremony.

Under Pennsylvanian criminal law, a terroristic threat is a misdemeanor and carries a maximum of five year prison term in a county facility.

Merritt is also expected to receive a rigid penalty for driving on a revoked license. According to police and county records, Merritt served time in September 2005, for driving on a suspended license. He served six days in county prison and paid a $500.00 fine. 

Witness told Bristol Township police that they saw the Merritt point a gun to a group of people at a soccer field on Friday night in the compound of the F.D.Roosevelt Elementary School on route 413.

“People ran in all directions for their lives; others clinched to their kids,” one witness described the melee.

“Where the f is the man? Where the mother… “f” man at?”,  witnesses quoted the incensed man. Apparently, that “mother f” was Willie Smith, the new love of Merritt’s ex and with whom his three-year old lives in Bristol. Smith said he had been caring for Merritt’s three year old daughter since she was four months old. Smith and his girlfriend are expecting a baby.

“I ran for cover and was really damn scared because this guy looked like he was about to shoot. Plus, he went home and came back with a gun; that was pretty intentional,” explained a witness.

Smith spoke to Frontpageafrica.com minutes after Merritt was arrested:

“It’s true his three year old daughter live with me and her mom, as she has been since she was four months old. Today, Roland came on the field and tried to take the little girl from me. I pulled the girl away and asked him why did he want the girl? Then he snapped, saying who the “f “are you to ask that question? I then graciously asked the girl’s mom to get her away from Roland. It was then that Roland deliberately hit my girl, who is nine months pregnant, with his SUV door.”

“I got her back into our car and called 911 for an ambulance. We drove off from the scene and waited for the ambulance on Rockview Drive.”

It was while Smith and his girlfriend left along with the three-year old that Merritt returned to the ballpark with a loaded gun looking for Smith and or his ex., witness said. They said he then sped away in search of Smith when he found out they had left the ballpark.

“While we waited for the ambulance, Roland saw my parked car,” smith added.

 As Merritt drove towards his would be target, Smith got a call on his cell phone from his brother, who was still hanging out in the ballpark.

“My brother told me to watch out for Roland, because he was carrying a loaded gun with him,” said Smith.

What Merritt didn’t know was that the Bristol Township police was sitting next to Smith’s in an unmarked dodge cruiser awaiting the ambulance. Smith informed the undercover cop that the man in green Chevy Tahoe was the accused, and that he was reportedly carrying a loaded gun.

Roland was pulled over and ordered out of the car. The cop called for back up and a search of the late model green SUV netted a loaded 45 magnum, fully loaded. He was handcuffed and risked off to the Bristol police precinct, while his truck was towed away.

 

Previous story: Jilted by Ex, Jealous Married Man Attacks, Arrested With Loaded Gun
 

A Liberian man was arrested Friday night in Bristol, Pa after he pulled out a loaded gun and pointed it at a crowd; and his charges may include six others, including endangering the welfare of an unborn, and driving without a Pennsylvania Driver’s license, witnesses said.   

The man identified as Roland Merritt of Bensalem was arrested on Rockview Drive, near the new Bucks County Community College, shortly after 9.00 PM, as he drove towards his apparent target, his ex’s new live-in boyfriend, the witnesses said.

Roland Merritt of Bensalem is arrested and handcuffed on Rockview Drive , near the new Bucks County Community College. Eyewitnesses alleged they saw the susect as he pulled out a black pistol, cracked it or advanced it in firing mode as he moved toward of nearly 100 people, including women and children. Photo: Jackson Kanneh

People who know Merritt told FPA that he recently married his new girlfriend in a court ceremony.

Witness offered testimonies to Bristol Township police, alleging they saw the gunman pulled out a black pistol, cracked it or advanced it in firing mode as he moved toward of nearly 100 people, including women and children.

“People ran in all directions for their lives; others clinched to their kids,” one witness described the melee.

The incident took place in the compound of the F.D.Roosevelt Elementary School on route 413 in Bristol.

“Where the f is the man? Where the mother… “f”man at?”,  witnesses quoted the incensed man. Apparently, that “mother f” was Willie Smith, the new love of Merritt’s ex and with whom his three-year live in Bristol. Smith said he had been caring for Merritt’s three year daughter since she was four months old. Smith and his girlfriend are expecting a baby.

“I ran for cover and was really damn scared because this guy looked like he was about to shooting after he pointed the gun at the crowd. Plus, he went home and came back with a gun; that was pretty intentional,” explained a witness.

Smith spoke to Frontpageafrica.com minutes after Merritt was arrested: “It’s true his three year old daughter live with me and her mom, as she has been since she was four months old. Today, Roland came on the field and tried to take the little girl from me. I pulled the girl away and asked him why did he want the girl? Then he snapped, saying who the “f “are you to ask that question? I then graciously asked the girl’s mom to get her away from Roland. It was then that Roland deliberately hit my girl, who is nine months pregnant, with his SUV door.”

“I got her back into our car and called 911 for an ambulance. We drove off from the scene and waited for the ambulance on Rockview Drive.”

It was while Smith and his girlfriend left along with the three-year old that Merritt returned to the ballpark with a loaded gun looking for Smith and or his ex., witness said. They said he then sped away in search of Smith when he found out they had left the ballpark.

“While we waited for the ambulance, Roland saw my parked car,” smith added.

As Merritt drove towards his would be target, Smith got a call on his cell phone from his brother, who was still hanging out in the ballpark. “My brother told me to watch out for Roland, because he was carrying a loaded gun with him,” said Smith.

What Merritt didn’t know was that the Bristol Township police was sitting next to Smith’s in an unmarked dodge cruiser awaiting the ambulance. Smith informed the undercover cop that the man in green Chevy Tahoe was the accused, and that he was reportedly carrying a loaded gun.

Roland was pulled over and ordered out of the car. The cop called for back up and a search of the late model green SUV netted a loaded 45 magnum, fully loaded. He was handcuffed and risked off to the Bristol police precinct, while his truck was towed away.

 

source: frontpageafrica