The gun-wielding man caught on video menacing participants of a “No Kings” rally in Wilkes-Barre over the weekend has been identified as a Scranton resident who is now jailed on assault and terroristic threat charges.
Police say Michael Paul Kolarik, 52, of 530 Fourth Ave., was found in possession of two legally owned and loaded pistols when he was stopped while driving a red Jeep Wrangler adorned with Donald Trump political flags around Public Square during the rally Saturday morning.
The rally, which was part of more than 2,600 similar anti-Trump protests taking place across the country, was attended by hundreds of area residents. Some of them described seeing the man flashing a weapon and pointing it toward the crowd during a protest that was otherwise peaceful.
According to the complaint, officers monitoring the protest received several reports of attendees being threatened by a man with a gun shortly before noon Saturday.
One attendee told police the man in the Jeep, later identified as Kolarik, pointed the gun in her direction while holding it at waist level, according to the complaint. Another victim reported that Kolarik pointed the gun at her while his finger was on the trigger, causing her to fear for her life, police said.
Officers stopped the doorless Jeep near Rodano’s on the Square and observed Kolarik sticking a pistol into the Jeep’s center console, according to the charges.
A search turned up two Smith & Wesson M&P Shield pistols — the one in the console and another in a holster on Kolarik’s hip, police said.
Both weapons were loaded with rounds in the chambers, and both were legally owned by Kolarik, who has a license to carry concealed firearms, police said.
Officers arrested Kolarik and had his Jeep towed while some protesters sang the chorus from “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye.”
Police charged Kolarik with misdemeanor counts of making terroristic threats, simple assault, reckless endangerment and disorderly conduct.
Magisterial District Judge David A. Barilla arraigned Kolarik on the charges Saturday afternoon and set bail at $50,000.
Kolarik was being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 5.
Originally Published: October 20, 2025 at 9:12 AM EDT