Telford Borough Police. Photo by James Short.
The defendant has threatened victims via public Facebook and private Messenger, police allege.
A Telford man accused of stalking, threatening, harassing and extorting victims via public Facebook posts, private Facebook Messenger messages, and texts faces charges by police of felony intimidation of a victim to withhold information and numerous misdemeanor terrorism charges.
In addition to the felony charge, Joseph Michael Dickinson, 55, of the 400 block of South Washington Avenue, Telford, was charged Aug. 26 by Telford Police with three misdemeanor counts each of terroristic threats with intent to terrorize another and harassment, two misdemeanor counts of stalking, and three summary charges each of harassment and disorderly conduct, in connection with the alleged May 13, 2024 incident, per court filings.
Dickinson is free on 10% of $10,000 cash bail as he awaits a preliminary hearing before Bucks County Magisterial District Judge Regina Armitage.
Police allege in an affidavit that the department was made aware on May 13 of continued harassment and extortion attempts by Dickinson via social media messages and text messages.
The victims told authorities that they had not spoken to Dickinson for more than a year and they have since moved out of the state, but Dickinson continues to harass and threaten them, police said.
Dickinson posted on his public Facebook two posts on April 12, 2023, police said, harassing the victims.
One post stated alleged threats like, “You didn’t work for a single penny it shouldn’t be so bad when I take it … (The victim) went from stalker to husband to father inside of tow years … No telling how much happiness will end up costing you.”
A second post, police allege, stated, “I’ll give you some slack and let you make two payments of $50,000. It’s the deal of the day … far less than what I’m gonna take if you get dumber and force me to help myself at your table, so make it snappy (expletive) face,” and “I would handle your business before I change that figure and add 3 more zeros. Nobody wants that debt following them around throughout their life.”
Police said Dickinson threatened the victims on Facebook Messenger, stating things like, “Maybe I got take a trip to Florida, kidnap his parents for ransom,” “I’ll put a crew together and bring two tractor trailers down there and take everything he owns and leave them all tied up in a horse stall full of flies and (expletive),” and “He should have thought long and hard what (expletive) me off was gonna do to his perfect life. He alone is the blame and cause for me losing everything I had.”
Police said the threatening messages and Facebook posts continued throughout May, with one post stating that he hoped the victim “gets a brain tumor and dies a horrible death,” and “You’ve created a very vengeful enemy in me, remember to always look over your shoulder, you never know it might be that day our paths cross.”
Police met Dickinson at his home on July 9, and told him to cease all communications or else he will be facing additional charges, police said in the affidavit.
Dickinson told police, “(The victim) better not cross paths with me, because I will put him in the ICU,” police said. He also told police they “can put this on record, because that is what will happen,” per the complaint.
He also told police, they allege, that his bark is bigger than his bite and that he “would never travel out of state to deliberately attack” the victims. Dickinson also told police his messages were aggressive and threatening, per the complaint.
After police left Dickinson’s home, they allege he started reaching out to victims again in a threatening manner on Messenger and on Facebook, including messages stating he would kill the victim and that “plans are in motion.”
On July 10, Dickinson allegedly sent a picture of the victim’s business entryway that was taken from the company website, and the victims became distraught that Dickinson would show up at their home or workplace.
When police filed charges of stalking and harassment against Dickinson, he called police, acknowledging he received them and that he wanted them dropped, police said. He complained it was not a police matter and told police he would not show up at his preliminary hearing, per the affidavit.
Police said Dickinson continued with his harassment toward the victims and committed witness intimidation. The public Facebook posts continued, as did private messages, police said, including “Whenever we meet face to face, I hope you’re wearing a diaper, because you will (expletive) yourself naturally or from the trauma you’re going to endure,” “It’s like you’re inviting me to come to you for trying to ruin my happy life by getting the police to do something. I’m taking that as a threat, I’m in animal mode,” and “I’m begging you to drop the charges, if not there’s no turning back, this is going to be very bad, I did give you a chance.”
Dickinson, police said, wrote to the victims that they should “prep for what’s coming.”
All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.
