A New York man was taken into custody by Police last week after making threats targeting Berks County Common Pleas Judges, the Berks County District Attorney’s office announced Wednesday.
According to Berks County Detectives, on Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at approximately 12:38pm, the spouse of a Berks County Court of Common Pleas Judge, received a threatening telephone call at their residence. The male caller complained that his court case is taking too long and stated that he knows their address. Then, the spouse immediately contacted the Judge’s Law Clerk and Court Administration was alerted.
The male caller telephoned Berks County Court Administration and left two additional threatening voicemail messages.
Investigators say that in the 1st voicemail message, the male caller identified the two Berks County Common Pleas Judges and threatened that he’s going to be like a school shooter in the courtroom. Further stating that he has a 9mm Ruger and will shoot the person at the front door and work his way up to the courtroom. He further stated, “The next scene is murder.”
In the 2nd voicemail message, investigators say the male caller stated that he does not believe in the judicial system and that we have no jurisdiction. He states that he is not trying to kill anybody, but if he must murder somebody, for us to understand. He has never hunted humans, but he swears to god he’s ready for it.
Additionally, investigators say he identifies his ex-girlfriend and mentions the case which is currently pending in Berks County Court of Common Pleas. He also made threats to kill the ex-girlfriend.
The male caller also provided his address in New York and suggested that law enforcement come to his front door.
The Berks County Detectives utilized investigative resources to positively identify the male caller as Tyrel Smith, a twenty-eight-year-old resident of the Bronx, New York.
During the investigation, they further learned that Tyrel Smith was scheduled to appear for arraignment in the Berks County Court of Common Pleas the next morning (Wednesday, November 10, 2021 @ 8:30am) relative to Terroristic Threats and Harassment charges, which were filed by the Reading Police Department.
On Tuesday, November 9, 2021, at approximately 9:10pm, the Berks County Detectives filed criminal charges at Reading Central Court. Magisterial District Judge Brian Strand issued an arrest warrant for the defendant.
Detectives contacted the Berks County Sheriff’s Office seeking their assistance in attempting to locate and apprehend the defendant in New York.
At approximately 11:30pm, members of the United State Marshal’s Service apprehended Tyrel Smith at his Bronx apartment, without incident. Smith was taken into custody and incarcerated at the Eric M. Taylor Center, East Elmhurst, New York, pending extradition to Berks County.
Wednesday, November 17, 2021, the Smith is scheduled to appear in Bronx Supreme Court, relative to the extradition proceeding.
As in every criminal case, the fact that an arrest occurred or a complaint has been filed is merely an accusation, and the defendant Tyrel Rashawn Smith, is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.
