Jan 7, 2015 3 min read

CARMICHAELS – State Police arrested a Nemacolin man for allegedly threatening to harm Cumberland Township Police Chief Craig Miller and Officer Brian Smith in retaliation for losing custody of his children and being returned to jail.

Robert William Treece, 43, allegedly called the police station Jan. 3 from a cellphone to issue threats against Miller and Smith. Smith said Treece identified himself by name and he recognized his voice from previous dealings he had with him, according to a criminal complaint filed with Greene County Magisterial District Judge Glenn Bates. Treece is charged with making terroristic threats and harassment.

Smith told state Trooper Daniel Barnhart that Treece told him he was going to find Smith and Miller, blacken their eyes, break their noses and do whatever else he wanted to do to them. Smith said Treece told him he could find them on or off duty. Treece additionally stated after assaulting them he would kill himself so the police could not win, adding the police ended his perfect life and he would die if he had to, Smith said.

Miller said Treece blames him and Smith for an incident in June. At that time, Treece was awaiting arraignment for contempt of a no-contact protection-from-abuse order filed by his wife, Sarah, in 2011.

Sarah Treece called Cumberland Township police June 17 to report her husband threw her from her porch and struck her in the back of a head following an argument about a cellphone. She showed Miller a partially healed bruise on her eye she claimed Treece caused a few days prior.

Sarah Treece admitted to Miller her husband was living at her residence since June 4 and told Miller she wanted to modify the previous PFA to allow him to stay there, providing he was not allowed to strike her.

Robert Treece was taken into custody, then told Miller he was not feeling well. Miller said Treece told him he consumed 18 to 20 Norotin tablets and 5 to 6 Seroquel.

Treece was taken by EMS personnel to Southwest Regional Medical Center where a physician placed him on a 12-hour observation and placed him in the mental health ward.

The Cumberland Township Police Department was to be notified prior to Treece’s release so they could return him to jail but he walked out of the hospital in his medical gown, resulting in an escape charge, police said.

He was arrested three days later on June 20 and arraigned for the PFA violation.

In a related case, charges were filed Jan. 6 against Sarah Treece for allegedly attacking her husband Aug. 12 at their 77 Haig Ave. address. Police said they were at the residence to pick up Robert Treece on a warrant when he told them his wife hit him in the neck with a brick and tried to stab him in the foot. Robert Treece had a large red mark on his neck and an abrasion on his left foot, according to the affidavit.

The Treece children were removed from the home and placed into CYS custody, according to Miller.

A jury found Robert Treece guilty Dec. 4 of escape and flight to avoid apprehension. He was scheduled to appear for sentencing Dec. 29 but failed to show. A bench warrant was subsequently issued for his arrest but court records indicate it was vacated later that day.

He is currently being held in the Greene County jail on $20,000 straight cash bond.