FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – JULY 3, 2026

“OPERATION BLUE FLOOD”

UNITED STATES’ MARSHALS SERVICE WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA FUGUTIVE TASK FORCE

Cambria County District Attorney, Jessica F. Aurandt, releases the following on behalf of the District Attorney’s Office and the Johnstown Police Department:

On July 1 and July 2, 2026, the United States’ Marshals Service Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force conducted OPERATION BLUE FLOOD in the City of Johnstown with the collaboration of the Johnstown Police Department,  Richland Police Department,  Cambria Township Police Department,  Cambria County Detectives’ Office with K9 Blitz,  Cambria County Sheriff’s Office,  FBI Safe Streets Task Force,  ATF,  Cambia County District Attorney’s Office, Pennsylvania Department of Probation and Parole,  U.S. Department of Probation and Parole, United States’ Attorney’s Office,  Pennsylvania State Police and  PA Office of Attorney General Bureau of Narcotics Investigations. 

OPERATION BLUE FLOOD was a strategic saturation of the Johnstown area focused on the apprehension of individuals wanted for felonious and violent offenses.  Teams of law enforcement agents spent countless hours over the course of these two days relentlessly surveilling, pursuing and detaining wanted individuals across the City of Johnstown. 

As a result of OPERATION BLUE FLOOD, eighteen (18) individuals were apprehended on warrants and/or criminally charged:

Mark Sheehee,   Kevin Morris,  Angela Rice,   Akeem Clinkscales,   Willie Bedell,  Marvin Thompson,   Arvell Brandon,   Tyler Walters,  Joanne Barefoot,   Jared Britt,   Brian Schiffhauer, Simyron Johnson,   Dana Snyder,   John Machesky,  Julian Williams,   Susan Heider,   Eric Freeman   and   Michael Nash.

On July 1, 2026, agencies participating in OPERATION BLUE FLOOD executed the arrest warrant service of Akeem Clinkscales at the Solomon Homes, Building 8, Apartment 156.  Clinkscales was located inside the apartment and was taken into custody without incident.  Consent to search the residence was acquired and members of law enforcement located the following items (pictured below):

• Loaded and chambered Glock 19 firearm with serial number CCBD134 (reported stolen in Philadelphia)
• 21.02 grams crack cocaine (approximate street value of $2,100);
• 33 Oxycodone tablets (approximate street value of $660);
• 46.08 grams heroin (approximate street value of $13,800); and,
• Approximately $2700 of U.S. Currency.

Charges related to the seized items are forthcoming. 

Later that day, members of the Cambria County Drug Task Force were involved in a narcotics operation at 234 Charles Avenue, Moxham, City of Johnstown.  Law enforcement utilized investigative techniques which allowed for the application and execution of a search warrant on the residence for a subject with an active arrest warrant. A search warrant for the residence was subsequently executed and the following was seized (pictured below):

• 73.44 grams of suspected cocaine (approximate street value of $7,300);
• 9.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine (approximate street value of $900);
• $4,620 in U.S. Currency;
• Drug packaging material, including digital scales;
• Electronics

As a result of this investigation, Simyron Johnson Jr., Julian Williams, John Machesky, and Dana Snyder were taken into custody and have been charged with Criminal Conspiracy and Possession with Intent to Distribute Narcotics. All three were taken to the Cambria County Prison for arraignment. Susan Heider, Eric Freeman, and Michael Nash will be charged via summons.

OPERATION BLUE FLOOD and the collaboration of multiple local, state and federal law enforcement agencies highlight the joint, ongoing, proactive efforts to protect our community. The District Attorney’s Office would like to thank the United States’ Marshals Service Western Pennsylvania Fugitive Task Force for the investment of their time, intelligence and resources in carrying out this OPERATION in Cambria County. 

*All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty.*