MARION HEIGHTS -- Many have tagged Rose Galgocy's behavior as "crazy," but the 80-year-old is not a prime candidate for Northumberland County's mental health treatment court.
Galgocy, of 412 E. Clement St., Marion Heights, is facing criminal charges for allegedly trying to run down Charles "Chaz" Gallup twice as he walked down the street near his home and then spitting in the face of a Mount Carmel police officer who took her into custody on July 9.
Neighbors claim the elderly woman has terrorized the neighborhood for 30 years and wonder why she hadn't been locked up sooner or confined to a mental hospital.
While Northumberland County has for the past several years offered a mental health treatment court providing professional help as an alternative to jail, the program is only available to defendants who are diagnosed with a mental disorder, officials said Monday.
And none of the defendants in any of the treatment courts, including mental health, drug and DUI, are allowed to participate if they've been accused of a violent crime or are likely to be a threat to the public.
For this reason, Galgocy wouldn't have been considered for mental health court.
Gallup was walking along East Clermont Street near his home on July 9 when Galgocy allegedly tried to run him down in her Ford Bronco. Gallup said the woman, who was swearing and spitting, sped away only to return in another vehicle, a Pontiac Grand Am.
While in custody, Galgocy allegedly spat in the face of Mount Carmel Township police Cpl. Brian Hollenbush.
She is being held in the Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury. Galgocy has amassed a lengthy criminal record in the past 10 years, including 16 counts of disorderly conduct, 11 counts of harassment, as well as simple assault, terroristic threats and resisting arrest.
A 2004 court order by Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage disqualified District Judge Michael Mychak from hearing complaints involving Galgocy and transferring all cases to District Judge John Gembic, Shamokin. The reason for the court order wasn't immediately clear Monday afternoon.
Although charges of felony aggravated assault and criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, as well as misdemeanor reckless driving and related offenses, were filed at Mychak's office last week and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for Thursday, the case will be transferred to Gembic's office.
On Monday, Gembic said he hadn't received the complaint and a hearing had not been scheduled.
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