Cops, Courts & Fire -Middletown Township

Father Pleads Guilty in Death of 2 Year-Old Son Who Accidentally Shot Himself in 2020

Published

4 years ago

April 29, 2022

staff

A 28-year-old man pleaded guilty on Thursday, April 28, 2022, in the death of his 2-year-old son who picked up his father’s handgun and accidentally shot himself in a Middletown Township apartment in December 2020.

Jorddan M. Thornton appeared before Common Pleas Judge Jeffrey L. Finley and entered guilty pleas to involuntary manslaughter and child endangerment.

Thornton was sentenced to 11 ½ to 23 months in the Bucks County Correctional Facility, followed by three years of probation. He was also ordered to perform 30 hours of community service and undergo a gun safety or a parenting program.

The Middletown Township Police Department and the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office investigated the Dec. 2, 2020, shooting at the Racquet Club Apartments, 1970 Veterans Highway, and concluded that Thornton’s son “accessed a loaded firearm and then shot himself in the head in a reckless or grossly negligent manner.”

When Middletown police arrived to investigate the shooting, they found Thornton standing outside an apartment holding a male child with a bloody head wound. The officer said the child’s injury was consistent with a gunshot wound.

Thornton told police he had been watching television with his son but fell asleep. He also said his son had been jumping on the bed, and he believed his son hit his head on the headboard. Thornton also told police that there are guns in the apartment, but all put away in drawers.

The boy was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center where he was declared dead a short time later. A doctor there said the injury was consistent with a gunshot wound.

Detectives obtained a search warrant for the apartment and located a loaded Glock handgun on the floor, at the foot of the bed. The gun was registered to Thornton. Detectives also observed a dresser with its bottom drawer open at the foot of the bed.

In court Thursday, Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy said a search of the home turned up seven firearms with only one secured in a gun safe.

This investigation was conducted by the Middletown Township Police Department and Detectives with the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office. The case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Kristin McElroy and Assistant District Attorney Brittney Kern.

Following a similar tragedy, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office created Ben’s Campaign in April 2017, a gun lock prevention program with the goal of preventing accidental shootings involving children by putting free gun locks in as many homes as possible.

The safety campaign has provided thousands of cable-style gun locks for free to gun owners throughout the county.

For information on getting a free gun lock, call your local police department’s non-emergency line or check with any of our partner agencies: Bucks County Sheriff’s Office, Bucks County Area Agency on Aging, Children and Youth Social Services Agency and the Network of Victim Assistance.

For more information on the program, click here.

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Cops, Courts & Fire -Langhorne

Middletown Recognizes Public Safety Professionals for Life-Saving Efforts

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

staff

Middletown Township recently recognized public safety professionals for life-saving efforts last year.

In November 2025, members of Middletown Township Fire & Emergency Services were operating at a shed fire in the Borough of Penndel when the Penndel-Middletown Emergency Squad was dispatched for a reported unconscious patient at Advance Auto Parts.

Special Service 244, operated by Firefighter/EMT Riley Collins, responded alongside Officer Hillary Kloiber of the Penndel Borough Police Department to assist the medic unit.

Officer Kloiber arrived first, with firefighter Collins arriving moments later, and located a male patient in cardiac arrest. CPR was immediately initiated, and additional resources were requested. Shortly thereafter, Medic 168, Special Service 8, and officers from the Langhorne Borough Police Department arrived on scene.

Credit: Middletown Fire & Emergency Services and Middletown Township

Fire, EMS, and Police personnel worked seamlessly and simultaneously, providing high-quality patient care through transport to St. Mary Medical Center.

Due to the rapid response, coordinated teamwork, and effective life-saving interventions by all involved, the patient made a full recovery and has since returned to normal life.

This incident highlights the importance of interagency cooperation and the dedication of our public safety professionals who serve our community every day.

Officials thanked Chief Perry of the Penndel Borough Police Department for organizing “the well-deserved recognition ceremony.”

Recognized Responders (pictured left to right in feature picture):

• Firefighter/EMT Riley Collins
• Firefighter/EMT Aiden Goodson
• Chief Martin Liczbinski
• Paramedic Carrie Ehmann
• Officer Michael Mannino
• Officer Hillary Kloiber

Not Pictured:
• Firefighter/EMT Darrel Martin>
• Chief Zach Cooperman

Excellent work by all involved. Your professionalism, teamwork, and commitment to service truly made a difference in our community, said officials.

Cops, Courts & Fire -Middletown Township

Cops: Man with 2018 Sexual Assault Conviction Jailed for Failure to Report to Sex Offender Authorities

Published

4 days ago

March 1, 2026

staff

A Philadelphia man with a 2017 conviction for sexual assault placing him on the state sexual offenders list for his lifetime is in Bucks County Custody after allegedly defying reporting requirements.

According to Pennsylvania State Police, Malachi Brant is a Tier 3 Pennsylvania Megan’s Law lifetime registrant having first registered in 2018, subsequent to a Philadelphia County conviction for sexual assault that same year.

Brant must comply with all conditions of his registration including regular quarterly verification windows.

According to the criminal complaint on July 22, 2025 Middletown Township Police Department received a notification from Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), Megan’s Law Section that Brant had not reported for his July 7 2025 to July 16 2025 verification window. The last known address for Brant was 1990 Woodbourne Road Langhorne, which is the address for Pyramid Healthcare, a substance abuse rehabilitation facility.

On August 5, 2025 police proceeded to that address and spoke with Pyramid Healthcare employees who were advised of the Brant’s Megan Law status. Employees could not confirm Brant’s presence due to HIPPA regulations whether or not the he was present. Police requested that if Brant were present, employees pass along a message that if he did not contact PSP Megan’s Law Section within 24 hours, a warrant for his arrest would be obtained. Employees advised that Brant were there, they would pass the message along.

Police made multiple attempts to contact Brant by phone unsuccessfully. PSP Megan’s Law Section advised that no other recent address was known for Brant. On August 8, 2025 police confirmed with PSP Megan’s Law Section that the Brant was still listed as “non-compliant”, according to court records.

A warrant was then issued for Brant on Feb. 20, 2026. **He was arraigned by District Judge Charles D. Jonas on a felony charge of failing to register with state police.

Jonas set bail at 10 percent of $75,000. Brant was unable to post bail and remanded to Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF).

Brant has a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 26 and currently has no attorney of record, according to online court records.

**Note: The criminal complaint does not reflect or say where or how police discovered Brant’s whereabouts and or where they took him into custody,

Cops, Courts & Fire -Middletown Township

Local Police Warn Motorists, Trucks Drivers to Clear Ice & Snow Or Else …..

Published

1 week ago

February 24, 2026

Jeff Bohen

Snow and ice are still clinging to vehicles despite snowfall ending hours ago.

Middletown Township Police posted a stark reminder of what can happen when motorists don’t follow the law meant to protect motosists, that came a result of snow/ice falling off a truck/vehicle

On Christmas Day in 2005, Christine Lambert was killed by a chunk of ice that blew off the top of a box truck outside of Jim Thorpe in Carbon County.

Middletown Township Police posted a stark reminder of what can happen when motorists don’t follow the law meant to protect motosists.

“Christine’s Law” was enacted in 2022 and now allows officers to write citations for those putting others at risk. The verbiage of the law is pictured below

Middletown authorities noted the relevant language of the statute below in their Meta page post

Credit: Submitted

“Remove all ice and all snow from your vehicle before going on the road or you could face citations.”

“If we are being honest though, it shouldn’t be the citation that motivates you to complete this task. Be a responsible driver in all seasons and if you can help an elderly, disabled, or vertically challenged neighbor, we encourage that too!”