BRADFORD, Pa. — A Bradford man accused of holding a knife to a woman’s throat in a Walmart parking lot Tuesday is being held in the McKean County Jail on $200,000 bail.
Nicholas Clore, 44, of 27 Euclid Avenue, is charged with terroristic threats, a first-degree misdemeanor, simple assault, a second-degree misdemeanor, and a summary traffic violation.
Foster Township Police Lt. Mike Thomas described the horrifying incident.
“I believe this was an indiscriminate attack,” he said. Clore was walking toward the pharmacy side entrance of the store when an unidentified woman from New York state came out. “He saw her and went (followed her) to her girlfriend’s car.”
According to the criminal complaint, at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday, the woman was leaving the pharmacy and going to the parking lot to go to her car when Clore grabbed her around the waist and told her not to scream. . She felt something pressed against her neck and realized it was a silver-bladed knife, and she began to scream. At that point, Clore fled to a parked car and left the parking lot, the complaint states.
“She did exactly the right thing by screaming and drawing attention to the situation,” Thomas said. A quick-thinking bystander took a photo of Croix’s car leaving the scene and gave it to police, who confirmed Croix’s identity and arrived at the residence within about 90 minutes of the incident. was able to make an arrest.
“We believe the suspect saw witnesses and several Walmart cart employees and fled,” Thomas said.
He said the victim was very distraught but was not injured.
Asked what prompted the assault, Thomas said police didn’t think it was for drugs, but added: “I think this person has some serious issues.” …I was very concerned about the woman’s safety. Literally, the incident happened within a minute. ”
It was still daylight. In a very crowded parking lot.
“You wouldn’t expect something like this to happen here,” Thomas said. “We all need to be more aware of our surroundings here. This could easily happen to anyone.”
The lieutenant said he became concerned after watching surveillance video of the store’s parking lot.
“The way he chased her, it was like he was prey.”
Should this be a warning to people to be more careful?
“Every woman and every man should be aware of their surroundings,” Thomas says. “Look who’s behind you.”
He said it was unclear whether Clore’s intention was to enter the Walmart to do something, and that she saw an opportunity when she left the store.
“I’m glad she wasn’t hurt,” Thomas said, adding he was glad someone else decided to get involved by taking the photo.
“I can’t thank the other witness enough for taking a photo of the car and the license plate,” Thomas said. “Be careful. Everyone has a camera phone. Take pictures.”
Clore was arraigned before duty District Judge David Engman and remanded to jail in lieu of $200,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear in Central Court on Thursday.