Oil City Man Charged After Police Dispatched to House Three Times for Disorderly Conduct

| April 1, 2023

OIL CITY, Pa. (EYT) – A local man is accused of disorderly conduct and related offenses after police were dispatched to his Oil City residence three times on March 22.

According to court documents, the Oil City Police Department filed criminal charges against 39-year-old Christopher J. Basham, of Oil City, in Magisterial District Judge Andrew F. Fish’s office on Friday, March 24.

The charges stem from incidents that occurred sometime between 1:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

According to a criminal complaint, police responded to the residence on West Fourth Street in Oil City, Venango County, for a possible domestic incident around 1:15 a.m. on Wednesday, March 22. A caller reported that Chris Basham was intoxicated and smashing things in the house.

Upon arrival, Oil City Police Officers made contact with Basham who appeared intoxicated and highly agitated. Basham stated he was upset since OCPD was called to his house again, the complaint states.

The known female victim told officers that Basham had been drinking for a while, and they got into an altercation. (It was noted that OCPD Officers had responded to the domestic altercation at 9:23 p.m. on Tuesday, March 21.) The victim stated Basham was just smashing things in the house and yelling loudly. Nothing was directed at her or her children, and she did leave the residence for the night, the complaint indicates.

Officers told Basham to keep the noise down for the night, the complaint notes.

At 1:45 a.m., neighbors of the West Fourth Street residence called to report Basham was outside arguing again, slamming doors, and swearing. Upon arrival, officers spoke with a known male, who was awakened by Basham’s behavior. He stated he went outside and saw Basham on his porch. The male asked Basham a question, and Basham yelled “(expletive) you!” and other obscenities at him, according to the complaint.

Officers again made contact with Basham and advised him to stay inside and keep the noise down, the complaint indicates.

At 2:37 a.m., the known male called back and requested officers come back up and “get this (expletive)-hole,” according to the complaint.

The male stated that Basham was back outside slamming doors, screaming, and turning lights on. Officers told Basham the next time they were called to his residence he would be leaving in handcuffs for disorderly conduct, the complaint notes.

Basham was charged with the following:

  • Disorderly Conduct Obscene Language/Gestures, Misdemeanor 3 (three counts)
  • Harassment – Communicating Lewd, Threatening, Etc. Language, Misdemeanor 3
  • Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct, Summary

A preliminary hearing is set for Wednesday, April 26, at 8:30 a.m., in Venango County Central Court with Judge Fish presiding.


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Category: Local News, News, Police & Fire Calls

Jacob Deemer is a reporter for EYT Media Group, who is based out of Venango County. He started his career as a sports writer for a local newspaper before contributing to TheHockeyWriters.com as a beat writer for the Pittsburgh Penguins. He has spent over 6 years covering sports, crime, and local news in Venango, Clarion, and Jefferson Counties.
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