September, 21, 2015- Commonwealth v Lawrence Bradley:  Lawrence A. Bradley, Jr., currently 18, of Harrisburg, appeared before the Honorable John F. Cherry and pleaded guilty to Theft by Receiving Stolen Property, Carrying a Firearm without a License, Possession of a Firearm by a Minor, Persons Not to Possess a Firearm, and Flight to Avoid Apprehension, and received a sentence of 2 ½ - 5 years’ incarceration in a state correctional institution.  This wasn't Bradley's first illegal possession of a handgun.  In fact, this is the second time Bradley was caught with a gun prior to his 18th birthday.  Bradley was prohibited from carrying a firearm as he was under 18 years old at the time of the offense and because he had previous juvenile adjudications for Escape and Possession of a Firearm by a Minor. 

Factually in the current case, on October 9, 2014, around 7:10 p.m., Dauphin County probation officers were conducting routine fieldwork attempting to make contact with probationers when they observed Bradley in a high-crime/high-drug area.  The officers attempted to make contact with the Bradley, as he was on probation for a previous felony drug offense, by calling his name, and Bradley immediately fled on foot.  When Bradley was fleeing, officers observed him lift his sweatshirt and saw a dark handle of a firearm on his right hip.  Bradley was also observed throwing the firearm as he ran.  Ultimately, Bradley was apprehended by responding Harrisburg City officers, while the probation officers secured the firearm, a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber, Bradley threw.  Subsequent to his arrest, it was learned that the firearm was stolen.  This case was prosecuted by Deputy District Attorney Andrew Jarbola.