** On October 9th, 2024, at approximately 0014 hours, City of Bradford Police responded to a call at the Holiday Inn Express, located at 30 Tarport Drive, regarding a large box truck striking the building and parked motor vehicles before fleeing the scene. Upon arrival, officers located the box truck in the downtown area and attempted a traffic stop. The operator, later identified as John Albert McWhinnie of Shelburne Falls, MA, fled from the vehicle on foot to evade officer contact.

Further investigation revealed that the box truck had been stolen from the Bradford Era, located at 43 Main Street, prior to the incident. The stolen vehicle had caused extensive damage to several parked vehicles and the Holiday Inn Express building, resulting in a large hole in one of the bedrooms and significant damage to the front overhang drive-through. Through diligent efforts, including scouring video footage and conducting numerous interviews, City Police were able to identify the driver as John Albert McWhinnie. It was determined that McWhinnie had fled the Bradford area back to Massachusetts. On March 10, 2025, the City of Bradford Police had McWhinnie extradited back to Pennsylvania, where he was arraigned by Magistrate Richard Luther.

McWhinnie was remanded to the McKean County Jail after failing to post $150,000 cash bail. Preliminary hearings are scheduled in the matter. The City of Bradford Police Department would like to thank the public for their cooperation and assistance in this investigation. The department is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of our community and will continue to work tirelessly to bring those responsible for criminal activity to justice. 

MCWHINNIE, JOHN ALBERT CC 3921

A THEFT (F3) CC 3925

A RECEIVING STOLEN PROPERTY (F3) CC 5104.2

EVADING ARREST OR DETENTION ON FOOT (F3) CC 2705

RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT (M2) VC 3743

A ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DAMAGE TO ATTENDED VEHICLE/PROPERTY (M3) PAVC 3714

A-CARELESS DRIVING (S) VC 3744 A FAILURE TO STOP AND GIVE INFORMATION AND RENDER AID (S) VC 3745

ACCIDENTS INVOLVING DAMAGE TO UNATTENDED VEHICLE OR PROPERTY (S) VC 3736

RECKLESS DRIVING (S) PAVC 1543 (A)

DRIVING WHILE OPERATING PRIVILEGE IS SUSPENDED OR REVOKED (S)

Age 46 Race White Gender Male Height 5′ 9″ Weight 250 lbs Hair Bald Eyes Brown

Presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Location 43 Main Street “The Bradford Era” Bradford, PA 16701

Arrest Date Mar 10, 2025

Incident Type Motor Vehicle Theft Reference ID 2024-10090014