A 20-year-old Bridgeport resident has been charged after Upper Merion police say he pointed what appeared to be a handgun at a former friend and chased him through residential yards while threatening to shoot him Sunday evening.

Police later recovered what the affidavit describes as a brown Glock BB gun with an extended black magazine.

The incident was captured on a resident’s Ring camera near West Valley Forge and Keebler roads shortly after 6:14 p.m. on September 13.

The defendant is charged with aggravated assault involving a deadly weapon, simple assault, terroristic threats and harassment.

Upper Merion Police Captain Jay Johnson confirmed to the Upper Merion Area Spotlight that the criminal docket is connected to the incident captured on video.

Johnson said police cannot release additional investigative information because the case remains an active criminal investigation. He added that police have no reason to believe there is any ongoing threat to the community.

According to an affidavit of probable cause obtained by the Spotlight, the victim was walking home from work when he passed a basketball court along Ross Road where several people were playing.

The affidavit states that one of the people at the court called out to the victim and asked where he was going. The victim responded that he had finished work and was walking home.

The victim continued along Ross Road, North Henderson Road and westbound West Valley Forge Road. As he approached an area across from the Upper Merion Community Center, he noticed a vehicle parked near the sidewalk.

Police allege that a man dressed entirely in black and wearing a black face mask was partially concealed behind trees and bushes nearby.

The affidavit states that the man ran from behind the bushes, pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the victim, ordered him to stop and threatened to shoot him. Despite the partially covered face, the victim identified the person as a former friend.

The victim described the object as a handgun with a long, extended magazine. Believing the weapon was real, he fled between properties and through the rear yards of nearby residences while being pursued, according to the affidavit.

The victim eventually returned to West Valley Forge Road farther down the street. Police allege that the defendant saw him and again moved toward him while still carrying the object.

The victim continued running until he crossed a creek and entered another neighborhood. The pursuit then ended.

The affidavit does not indicate whether the interaction at the basketball court was connected to what occurred afterward.

After learning about the incident, the Spotlight contacted a nearby resident whose Ring camera recorded portions of the chase. The resident shared the recordings with the Spotlight and provided them to Upper Merion police.

The footage shows one person running across a lawn while a masked person dressed in black follows behind carrying an object resembling a handgun. The person pursuing the victim can be heard twice threatening to shoot him.

According to the affidavit, Detective Elbert Lee reviewed the surveillance footage during the investigation and found that it corroborated the victim’s account.

Separate footage shared with the Spotlight appears to show two additional people running through the area during the incident. The affidavit does not identify those individuals or indicate whether they were connected to the alleged assault.

Police located the defendant near Chapel Lane and Hansen Road and took him into custody.

The affidavit states that the defendant admitted during an interview that he saw the victim walking along the street and waited for him to approach.

Police allege that the defendant admitted pulling out a BB gun, chasing the victim and threatening to shoot him.

The defendant also allegedly told investigators that he discarded the BB gun in bushes before officers took him into custody.

Police subsequently recovered the brown Glock BB gun with an extended black magazine from bushes along Hansen Road, according to the affidavit.

The affidavit does not state that any shots were fired or identify any physical injuries suffered by the victim.

Court records filed September 14 listed the defendant at Montgomery County Prison after he was unable to post $5,000 monetary bail. A preliminary hearing was scheduled for September 30.

The charges are allegations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

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Corey