A highly intoxicated Fell Twp. man attempted to block the path of a firetruck en route to a fire in a wooded area, according to state police.
Christopher Robert Evans, 44, of 504 Main St., Simpson, is facing charges of obstructing emergency services, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10 a.m. on June 23 before District Judge Sean McGraw.
According to the complaint:
State police responded to a wooded area off Erie Street, Carbondale Twp., at about 6:30 p.m. on March 23 for the report of a man threatening firefighters.
When troopers arrived at the scene, they spotted Evans yelling at fire and emergency services personnel.
Police spoke with A.J. Wormuth, the chief engineer of Meredith Hose Company 1, who said when they responded to a report of a fire in that area, they were met by Evans, driving an ATV and blocking their path to the fire.
Evans told them they didn’t need to go back to the fire because he had already put it out, Wormuth said.
Evans threatened to punch Wormuth in the mouth and kill his family.
Wormuth told Evans to get out of the way, that his priority was putting out the fire.
Evans continued to harass and threaten fire personnel on scene, threatening to start another fire after they left and throw tires on it. He persisted in threatening fire personnel until state police arrived.
Troopers spoke at the scene with Nicholas Racht, an emergency medical technician with Cottage Ambulance Company and part-time police officer with the Mayfield Police Department. Racht told officers that when he told Evans he was a police officer, Evans left the area and drove to the top of the trail, where he continued yelling at emergency personnel.
Racht said he believed Evans was “highly intoxicated,” based on his training and experience.