HARRISBURG, Pa. — A man was arrested last week on a Pennsylvania rally for the Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump had hoped to hang a banner to protest Trump’s policies, Johnstown’s police chief said Tuesday.
Authorities announced that charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest were filed against Stephen A. Weiss, 36, of Pittsburgh, who was arrested at Friday’s Trump rally.
Johnstown Police Chief Richard Pritchard said investigators don’t know what the banner said because arena staff apparently threw it away. He said it was made from a sheet and that Weiss told a detective he doesn’t believe in Trump’s politics.
Pritchard said Weiss faked a foot injury and hid a tube of glue inside a metal crutch.
Weiss declined comment when reached by phone Tuesday, saying he was seeking legal advice.
In the arrest affidavit from a Johnstown police detective, Weiss “ran into the arena, jumped onto the media stage (and) started yelling at the main stage where President Trump was speaking.” Weiss allegedly did not release himself from the steel barricade fence “and force had to be used,” police said in the charging document.
A man who accompanied Weiss to the rally told police he was unaware of Weiss’ plan, Pritchard said. The other man was not charged, the chief said.
Weiss was also charged with disturbing a public meeting, a misdemeanor. The Secret Service questioned Weiss on Friday and he was released later that evening. He has a court hearing scheduled for October 9.
A spokesman for Trump’s campaign had no immediate comment on Tuesday.
The disruption occurred shortly after Trump criticized major media outlets for what he said was unfavorable coverage.
As Weiss was led away, the former president told the crowd, “Is there anywhere more fun to be than a Trump rally?”
There has been strict scrutiny security at Trump meetings since a gunman shot at him, grazed his ear, during an outdoor rally in July in Butler, Pennsylvania. Security at political events has been palpable denser since then.