Police: Men Committed Burglary, Hit Woman, Dog

Occupants of a home in the 200 block of Third Avenue were shaken up after a pair of men entered the home and assaulted the occupants and punched a dog, according to police.

Darrin Troy Bellinger, 28, and James Lear, 31, both of Phoenixville, were each charged with felony burglary and felony criminal trespass after police say they pushed past a resident and caused trouble at a home shortly after 1 a.m. on Friday, March 16. Bellinger also faces charges of ethnic intimidation, cruelty to animals and terroristic threats. Bellinger and Lear were arraigned Friday at 10:17 a.m. and bail for Bellinger was set at $75,000 cash and Lear’s bail was set at $15,000.

According to the criminal complaint filed in district court, police were dispatched to a home in the 200 block of Third Avenue at 1:08 a.m. for a report of a disturbance. Police were told there were two men inside threatening the residents and refusing to leave.

When officers arrived, they heard yelling coming from the back of the home, where they found Bellinger and Lear sitting in a vehicle, according to the criminal complaint. Bellinger allegedly threw a bottle of Rolling Rock beer under the vehicle as officers approached.

“Upon speaking with Lear and Bellinger, it was determined that both of them appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” Officer Frank Bryan wrote in the criminal complaint.

An investigation revealed that earlier, Bellinger and Lear had approached the home and asked for an occupant. They were told by another occupant to leave, but refused to do so, and Bellinger allegedly pushed through the occupant of the home, punching her in the stomach and face.

Once inside, both men began yelling at the occupants of the home, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

“Bellinger threatened to kill the occupants of the home and he also threatened to rape their mothers,” Bryan wrote in the complaint.

Additionally, Bellinger yelled racial slurs at the occupants, saying “I hate all white people. They [expletive] and raped my ancestors and I hate you all,” according to the criminal complaint.

Lear and Bellinger refused to leave though the occupants kept asking them to go, Bryan wrote.

“Lear then picked up a full can of beer and he threw it at one of the occupants of the residence,” according to the criminal complaint. “The beer can struck the victim in the left cheek bone, causing an injury.”

One occupant was holding a dog in her arms, and Bellinger allegedly “struck the dog with a closed fist, causing it to yelp, and the force of the blow caused the dog to be knocked out of the occupant’s arms and onto the floor.”

The pair then began to break open several cans of beer, throwing them on the living room floor. They left the residence when the occupants threatened to call police.

“The occupants of the residence were still visibly shaken, scared and upset several hours after the incident,” Bryan noted.

Bellinger faces charges of burglary, simple assault, four misdemeanor counts of terroristic threats, four misdemeanor counts of ethnic intimidation, felony criminal trespassing and the following summary charges: criminal mischief, cruelty to animals, scattering rubbish, public drunkenness, four counts of harassment and disorderly conduct/engaging in fighting.

Lear is charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespassing along with misdemeanor simple assault and reckless endangering charges and summary counts of harassment, public drunkenness, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct/engaging in fighting.

Both men remain in Chester County Prison, unable to post bail. Bellinger and Lear have preliminary hearings scheduled for March 22 in Phoenixville district court. 

Lear was in the news earlier this week after he allegedly threatened an officer and assaulted a man in a barbershop. A bail hearing was held on March 8, and to 10 percent of $10,000, which Lear posted that same day.