Attempted murder suspect apprehended

Authorities have apprehended the man wanted in connection with an attempted murder in St. Thomas last week.

David Dalton Garner, 24, who had recently been released from the Franklin County Jail, was captured by Pennsylvania State Police Wednesday from a residence on Mickey Inn Lane in Greene Township. Garner was then taken to the county lockup on charges of criminal attempted homicide and is being held there in lieu of $1 million bond.

Garner had been at large since Dec. 20 when he allegedly assaulted an acquaintance and his mother at their St. Thomas home between 2:30 and 4 p.m. The arrest came just a day after police sought help in locating Garner through the Franklin County Crime Solvers program. A reward of up to $2,000 was offered for information leading to the arrest. Police did not say in a news release whether information through the program led to the arrest.

According to police, five hours after Garner was released from the county jail on Dec. 20 he knocked at the door of Micah McGowan, 25, of St. Thomas. Police said McGowan and Garner had been friends through grade school, but had not been in recent contact. Garner got a drink of water and police said was acting strange and hit McGowan on the head with a bathroom scale and stabbed him in the head. Garner allegedly tied McGowan up and put a plastic bag over his head and was trying to choke him as he asked where the valuables were located in the house.

Police said McGowan’s mother, Mary, 54, of St. Thomas returned home and interrupted the assault. Garner allegedly threatened the woman with a knife and tied her up. Police reported that he stole her money, credit cards and had her write out a check before fleeing in her 2008 black Subaru Outback. Mary McGowan then took her son to the Chambersburg Hospital were treatment.

Garner is charged with criminal attempted homicide, four counts of robbery, two counts each of aggravated assault, simple assault, theft and unlawful restraint.