SUNBURY — A member of the city’s Crime Watch will be forced to relinquish his fluorescent vest after being arrested in a drunken tussle with police earlier this month.
Travis Bremigen said he and other police were called to the area of North Fifth Street on Oct. 4 after a report of a man with a gun. They found Charles Rotzler, 55, of 37 Catawissa Ave., talking on his cell phone and claiming to be armed.
Bremigen responded to the scene, as did city police officers Jim Taylor and Vern Petty, and Shamokin Dam police officer Tim Bremigen, Travis’ brother and the former city police chief.
The four split up, with two approaching Rotzler from the front.
Rotzler allegedly told them, “I’ll shoot you mother (expletive deleted)!”
Police told Rotzler to get down on the ground but Rotzler allegedly refused, and began to reach into his pants pocket.
Police again ordered Rotzler to get down. He again refused, at which point police approaching from behind took Rotzler down.
A quick search yielded no gun. Rotzler was handcuffed, and began to make suicidal comments, telling police he was “tired and wanted out.” Rotzler was taken to Sunbury Community Hospital.
A phone number listed for Rotzler had been disconnected.
“It was one of those situations where we could have activated the Taser,” Travis Bremigen said, but police determined such force was not necessary, in part because Rotzler was known to police.
City police Chief Stephen Mazzeo and Crime Watch President Connie Beegle said Rotzler is in the process of being removed from the group to which he has belonged for only a few months.
Crime Watch has 200 members, Beegle said, although city officials believe the number of active members much fewer.
“This is not the first time we’ve told someone they had to be removed,” Mazzeo said. “Usually it’s not as dramatic as this.”
Beegle said others have been removed in the past for personality conflicts, and Mazzeo said another had been removed because of a summary harassment citation.
“It does happen,” Beegle said. “We have to look at backgrounds to know what’s going on and if somebody has a record or something like that you don’t want them there.”
Rotzler has been charged with recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness in connection with the Oct. 4 incident.
Court records do not show any evidence that he had any prior criminal record. He is set to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9 a.m. Dec. 29 before District Judge Carl Rice.
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