McCormicks Island suspect released from prison

The last of the McCormick’s Island partygoers to be held at Dauphin County Prison was freed Wednesday afternoon. But his freedom is likely to be short lived.

Thomas E. Matthies, of Laurel, Md., was being held on $2 million bail after his arrest on three counts of manufacturing, delivering and possessing drugs and other drug related charges. At the time of his arrest, court documents stated Matthies was found with a large quantity of drugs, including ecstasy, LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, marijuana and crystal methamphetamine, as well as more than $1,000 in cash, mostly in $20 bills.

Those charges were dismissed when the arresting officer failed to appear at Matthies’ preliminary hearing Wednesday. Because the dismissal was without prejudice, police can file the charges again, which is what Harrisburg City Police Chief Charles G. Kellar said will happen.

"We have already consulted with the district attorney. Those charges will be re-filed (Thursday) morning," Kellar said.

Kellar said the mix-up was due to a computer problem that caused the officer to not receive his subpoena for the hearing.

Matthies was one of more than 127 people arrested after police discovered the 7th Annual Island Camp-out with the DJs while searching for Christian Yanez, 27, a city man who drowned trying to swim to the party in the middle of the night. Matthies was the only person arrested on drug-related charges.

The promoters of the party, Quincey O. Morton and Kirsten Tonja Swartz-Morton, both of San Diego, were charged with 127 counts each of reckless endangerment. They remain free after posting $75,000 bail each.

The rest of those charged have been cited with illegal assembly under the city’s parks ordinance, which requires a permit for gatherings of more than 20 people listening to music.

Citations for Pennsylvania residents charged have begun turning up in local mailboxes. Those citations don’t specify a fine amount and require $1,000 less security than out-of-state residents facing the same charges.

A spokesman for District Judge Barbara W. Pianka’s office said the judge will decide any fines after holding hearings for those charged. Those hearings were originally set for Wednesday, but have been postponed while logistics of handling hearings for an estimated 200 people are figured out.

"Our courtroom is not big enough for that many people; neither is our waiting room," a spokeswoman for Pianka’s office said.