Police say a man will face charges after storming into the press area at Trump rally

Associated Press

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Police said Saturday that a man will look misdemeanor charges aft he stormed into nan property area astatine Donald Trump’s rally successful Johnstown, Pennsylvania, earlier being surrounded by authorities and yet subdued pinch a Taser arsenic nan erstwhile president said astatine nan run stop.

The incident Friday came moments aft Trump had criticized awesome media outlets for what he said was unfavorable sum and had dismissed CNN arsenic fawning for its question and reply Thursday pinch his Democratic rival Kamala Harris and her moving mate, Tim Walz.

It was not instantly clear what motivated nan man aliases whether he was a Trump protagonist aliases critic.

The man made it complete a obstruction ringing nan media area and began climbing nan backmost broadside of a riser wherever tv reporters and cameras were stationed, according to a video of nan incident posted to societal media by a newsman for CBS News. People adjacent him tried to propulsion him disconnected nan riser and were quickly joined by constabulary officers and sheriff’s deputies.

The crowd shouted arsenic a battalion of constabulary led nan man away, prompting Trump to say, “Is location anyplace that’s much nosy to beryllium than a Trump rally?”

Johnstown’s constabulary chief, Richard M. Pritchard, confirmed to The Associated Press connected Saturday that nan man was arrested, released and will beryllium formally charged adjacent week. Pritchard said nan man, whose personality will beryllium disclosed erstwhile charges are filed, will look misdemeanors successful municipal tribunal for alleged disorderly conduct, resisting apprehension and disrupting a nationalist assembly.

Pritchard, who was not straight progressive successful nan arrest, declined to estimate connected nan man’s motives.

Fierce disapproval of nan media is simply a modular portion of Trump’s rally speeches, and his supporters often respond by turning toward nan property conception and booing; immoderate usage their mediate digit to show their distaste for journalists.

Moments earlier nan man ventured into nan media’s designated section, Trump had reprised his acquainted assertion that nan media is simply a corporate “enemy of nan people.” Video of nan incident does not make clear what nan man was yelling arsenic he climbed barriers aliases arsenic he was being subdued and arrested.

Trump’s run tried to region nan erstwhile president from nan man and his actions, suggesting he was a Trump opponent.

“Witnesses, including immoderate successful nan property corps, described a crazed individual shouting expletives astatine President Trump,” said run elder advisor Danielle Alvarez. “His aggression was focused connected nan president and towards nan shape arsenic he entered nan property area.”

Alvarez did not place nan witnesses she cited aliases expound connected what nan man whitethorn person shouted. Alvarez added that nan run appreciates nan consequence of section rule enforcement officials and nan U.S. Secret Service for acting quickly.

Shortly aft nan incident, constabulary handcuffed different man successful nan crowd and led him retired of nan arena. It was not instantly clear whether that detention was related to nan first altercation.

The incident happened amid heightened scrutiny of information astatine Trump rallies aft a gunman fired astatine him, grazing his ear, during an outdoor rally successful July successful adjacent Butler, Pennsylvania. Security astatine governmental events has been noticeably tighter since nan shooting.

A Secret Service spokesperson referred questions to section authorities.

Police region a man, halfway pinch sunglasses, who had climbed onto nan media riser, arsenic Republican statesmanlike nominee erstwhile President Donald Trump speaks astatine a run event, Friday, Aug. 30, 2024, successful Johnstown, Pa. | Alex Brandon, Associated Press