SHAMOKIN —
A noise complaint led to numerous charges for a Shamokin man after he allegedly threatened officers while claiming to be God.
At his arraignment Tuesday morning, Daniel Gustitus said he was simply upset after hearing his wife may have had a cancer relapse.
Gustitus, 54, of North Rock Street, is charged with aggravated assault, aggravated harassment, criminal mischief, vandalism and two counts of disorderly conduct stemming from the March 12 incident, according to court documents.
Police responded to reports of loud music and a man screaming in the middle of the street, according to court documents.
On Tuesday, Gustitus said he was upset about his wife’s health scare.
“My way I could handle that was to turn my music up and walk around yelling,” he said. “God put a fury in me.”
According to police, Gustitus then turned his wrath on the responding officers, charging toward the officers and continuing to yell.
After police tried repeatedly to calm him down, the officers placed him under arrest and took him to the Shamokin Police Department, where he continued to yell and began spitting at officers, saying “I am God. I will kill you both,” police said.
When transporting Gustitus to Northumberland County Prison, Gustitus became aggressive again, kicking out the passenger side window of the police vehicle and attempting to climb out of it, police said.
The police car pulled over and Gustitus began bouncing up on the seat and the broken glass, continuing to yell at police, according to court documents.
Gustitus was further restrained and transported to Northumberland County Prison, police said.
In court Tuesday, Gustitus denied claims that he was combative toward officers, saying that the officers were acting aggressively toward him.
“I tried to place (the officer) under a citizen’s arrest,” he said.
Gustitus also denied that he believes he is God, saying he was a son of God.
“I am just a piece of sand on the beach,” he said.
However, Gustitus admitted to kicking out the window of the police cruiser.
“I made a big hole then went back and got all the little pieces,” he said. “I got all the pieces out.”
Gustitus was recommitted to the Northumberland County Prison in leiu of $2,500 bail.
Arson charges
Also in court Tuesday, James Neidlinger, 22, of East Dewart Street, was arraigned on 16 felony counts, including arson, burglary and risking catastrophe, stemming from fires he allegedly set in abandoned buildings in Shamokin in September and January at 424-426 and 717 N. Shamokin streets.
Neidlinger was already locked up in Northumberland County Prison on charges stemming from a Jan. 28 fire on Sunbury Street in Shamokin. He faces seven felony counts in that case, including arson and risking catastrophe, as well as one misdemeanor count of criminal trespass, according to court documents.
Neidlinger was soft-spoken in court and said he had no comment on the charges.
Bail was set at $25,000 in both cases and Neidlinger was recommitted to the Northumberland County Prison.
A preliminary hearing for all three cases has been set for at 9:30 a.m., March 26 in front of District Judge John Gembic.
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