A Beaver County man has been charged in the death of a mentally deficient, crack-addicted man who jumped to his death from a two-story building in March, allegedly because the suspect promised him either money or drugs to do so.

The suspect, Anthony G. Morris Jr., 28, of Midland, faces a preliminary hearing next Thursday in the March 28 death of Melvin Brown, 44, also of Midland.

Midland Police Chief Ronald Bongivengo said in a probable cause affidavit that Mr. Morris and another man, Pete Vaughn, 71, also of Midland, had talked to Mr. Brown about jumping off the building for either crack cocaine or money.

A witness, Misty Coles, said that shortly before 2 a.m. on March 28, Mr. Morris told people outside a bar that they should drive down the street to "see something funny." Furthermore, she told investigators, Mr. Morris said that Mr. Brown was going to "jump for a twenty." Chief Bongivengo speculated that either meant $20 in cash or in crack.

The group drove in two cars to the former Elks building at Fourth and Midland avenues. Ms. Coles said Mr. Brown was crouched on a second-story landing and either tried to stand up or jump "something like a frog" when he plummeted to the street below, landing on his head. He suffered a skull fracture and died the next day.

Chief Bongivengo said that Mr. Brown had a diminished mental capacity, had been hospitalized in the past for mental health issues and was addicted to crack cocaine.

A coroner's jury in January recommended that criminal charges be filed in Mr. Brown's death.