LANCASTER, PA — West Hempfield Township Police, with approval from the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office, filed charges on December 12, 2023, against 22-year-old Pharohe Jahcovi Scott of York. Scott faces one count of threat to use weapons of mass destruction and one count of making terroristic threats—both third-degree felonies—in connection to an incident that took place in May 2023.
On the morning of May 11, 2023, officers were called to Americold Logistics in Mountville following the discovery of a suspicious note. The note, found in a smoking pavilion on the business premises, read, “I have an IED in my car,” accompanied by a drawn smiley face. An IED, or Improvised Explosive Device, is a homemade bomb constructed from available materials and typically used in unconventional warfare or terrorist acts.
Officers from West Hempfield Police, along with K-9 units from Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office, York County Sheriff’s Office, and Lancaster City, responded swiftly to secure the area and ensure there was no immediate danger.
The investigation led detectives to Scott after they reviewed video footage from the business premises and interviewed witnesses. It was established that part of Scott’s daily duties included emptying and changing the trash can where the note had been found.
Charges were subsequently filed against Scott, who remains in Lancaster County Prison with bail set at $1,500. His preliminary hearing is set for tomorrow before Magisterial District Judge Miles Bixler.
As the case proceeds, it is crucial to remember that an arrest or a criminal complaint is not a declaration of guilt. All suspects, including Scott, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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