By VINCENT CORSO
[email protected]
BELLLEFONTE — Two members of the Bellefonte police force were recognized by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for their role in protecting the public from a potentially violent incident in 2020.
Officer Robert Igo and Detective William Witmer were both instrumental in helping the FBI identify and apprehend Mitchell Ocker-Mullen, 24, of Bellefonte, in October 2020. Ocker-Mullen pleaded guilty to federal charges of possession of unregistered firearms (destructive devices) in February and is awaiting sentencing.
During the recognition ceremony at an Aug. 15 borough council meeting, Bellefonte Police Chief Shawn Weaver said that Ocker-Mullen was a white supremacist and “basically pretty evil.” Weaver said the joint work of the law enforcement agencies prevented a violent incident in Cente County.
“It’s not if something was going to happen, it was where in the county it was going to happen and how many people were going to get hurt,” said Weaver.
In recognizing Igo and Witmer, FBI Agent Sean Noel said the agency worked with the Bellefonte Police on the case after Igo submitted a report that Ocker-Mullen, who was on probation for drug-related charges at the time, had attempted to illegally purchase firearms as a convicted felon.
Noel said a local firearms store reported to police that Ocker-Mullen was attempting to purchase components to make ghost guns.
“Ghosts guns do not possess serial numbers. It is not illegal to possess ghost guns, but it is illegal to possess ghost guns if you are a felon,” said Noel. “And it is illegal to sell ghost guns.”
“He asked the owner about purchasing these receivers (ghost gun components) and he also asked the owner if he had any knowledge of making hand grenades and if he sold any. He also asked the owner if he could purchase suppressors on his behalf. All of which the owner declined,” said Noel.
Noel said upon learning of the situation, “Officer Igo recognized the urgency of the threat and the need to mitigate it prior to the suspect going operational.”
Witmer then worked with the Centre County Probation Department to perform a “knock and announce” visit to Ocker-Mullen, where probation violations were found.
After Bellefonte police were granted a state search warrant, “numerous dangerous items were recovered, demonstrating the subject’s intent to commit a violent act.”
Noel said body armor, high-capacity hand-gun magazines, face masks, tactical equipment and three pounds of gunpowder were all recovered by police during the search.
“An associate of the subject identified a location where he tested his hand-built grenades. He had hand grenades that were hollowed out and basically, he was making handmade home grenades,” said Noel. The grenades were located in a rural location outside of Bellefonte.
“We know the subject and an associate were casing banks, armored vehicle routes and jewelry stores,” said Noel. He added that Witmer and Igo’s actions “prevented further illegal activities that put the citizens and the community at risk. Due to their tenacity, diligent and dedication to go above and beyond the call of duty, the law enforcement team was not only able to solidify a federal case which led to conviction of the subject, but also protect the public from another violent incident.”
