Halloween canceled in Pa. town due to Eric Frein manhunt

BARRETT TOWNSHIP, Pa. (WPVI) -- A Pennsylvania town has banned trick-or-treating this year while hundreds of law enforcement officials search nearby woods for accused cop killer Eric Frein.

The Barrett Township said its annual Halloween parade and 5K Scarecrow Race are canceled indefinitely, and trick-or-treating is banned this year, as the dragnet for Frein is now in its fourth week. The suspect is believed to be hiding out in thick woods near the town.

"This parade is probably one of the biggest events that the town has every year," Ralph Megliola, chairman of the township's Board of Supervisors, told ABC News today. "Everyone looks forward to the parade. Myself and my family personally have been away and cut our vacation short to get home in time for the parade. Thousands of people line the streets."

Megliola said that this year would have been the town's 50th anniversary parade. It was scheduled for Oct. 26.

Many people worried that Frein could escape during the Halloween activities with the help of disguises or costumes, ABC affiliate WNEP reported.

If he's found before Halloween, Megliola said the town will reconsider its Halloween activities. For now, a "trunk-or-treat" will be held in the parking lot of a Catholic school in a nearby township.

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On Wednesday state police said they found writings left by Frein that describe how he opened fire on a rural barracks and then made his escape.

Lt. Col. George Bivens read from the journal he says was written by Frein. He says Frein wrote that he took two shots, watched his victim fall "still and quiet," then shot a second trooper.

Investigators believe that excerpt refers to the late-night ambush that killed Cpl. Bryon Dickson and seriously wounded Trooper Alex Douglass.

Lt. Col. Bivens says this gives everyone a clear picture of the kind of person they are dealing with.

"I will tell you, after reading this cold-blooded and absolutely chilling account, that I can only describe Eric Frein's action as pure evil," he said.

Lt. Col. Bivens says Frein wrote that he tried to make a getaway in a Jeep, but ran it into a swamp and instead took off on foot, calling the botched getaway a "disaster."

Also Wednesday, police released two photos showing what Frein might look like with a mohawk - a hairstyle he was reportedly seen wearing - and with a beard.

Meantime, Action News has also obtained a copy of one of the search warrants executed on Frein's home.

Authorities recovered dozens of guns, high-powered rifles, ammunition, bomb making material and even equipment for making bullets.

ATF Special Agent Sam Rabadi says it's safe to say that the two pipe bombs recently recovered in the woods are not the only ones Frein allegedly constructed.

"All of these items lead us to believe that Frein has previously built improvised explosive bombs. We also believe that Frein possessed the materials necessary to build additional and perhaps more lethal explosive bombs capable of causing severe injury," said Rabadi.

Investigator say despite the fact that the search began nearly a month ago, they remain resolute in their mission to bring him to justice.

"The Pennsylvania State Police didn't pick this fight but it is ours to finish," said Lt. Col. Bivens.

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Information provided by ABC News was used in this article.