Police say an Allentown man stole signs from protesters on an Interstate 78 overpass in South Whitehall Township and then pulled a gun when he was confronted.
George M. Kammerer, 69, is charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and theft.
The incident occurred just before 3 p.m. Tuesday in the area of South Hillview Road and Crest View Drive in South Whitehall, where the protesters were gathered, police said. Authorities did not identify the group holding the protest. Members of the Allentown Visibility Brigade, which regularly organizes protests along the highway, declined to comment on the incident.
According to a police report, witnesses told police that a man, later identified as Kammerer, removed signs that they had attached to the chain link fence on the overpass and took them to his car.
Protesters followed Kammerer, police said, and one person removed a sign from Kammerer’s front seat. At that point, according to police, witnesses said Kammerer drew a black handgun from his waistband. Kammerer then drove off with the stolen signs, police said.
The encounter was partially recorded on video and in photos. Police contacted Kammerer, and he came to the South Whitehall police station late Tuesday and gave a statement.
According to court records, he admitted stealing the signs, saying he was “disgusted” because the signs were covering an American flag. He claimed that he drew his gun in self-defense.
Police searched Kammerer’s car and found the gun.
Court records do not list an attorney for Kammerer. He was arraigned before District Justice Rashid Santiago and released without bail pending a preliminary hearing.