Crime & Safety

Air Gun Made Witnesses 'Fear for Their Lives,' Police Said

South Bethlehem man charged with making terroristic threats after he showed off gun and 'cocked it' as he drove away, according to Freemansburg police.

A South Bethlehem man allegedly showed off a realistic looking air gun to people on Main Street in Freemansburg “causing them to fear for their lives,” according to a criminal complaint filed by borough police officers.

Lindsey Polite Whitney, 27, of 1450 Sixth St., in Bethlehem, allegedly had an airsoft pistol tucked in his waistband and lifted up his shirt to show it off to two bystanders at 430 Main St., Freemansburg, police said.

Whitney was one of several people who got out of a white Toyota van that parked on the street at a little after 6:30 p.m. Friday, according to an affidavit of probable cause.

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When one of the eyewitnesses saw Whitney walking toward her and pull up his shirt, she yelled that she was going to call the police, the affidavit said. Whitney and the others who had gotten out of the van then ran away, got back into the van and drove off.

But as the van pulled away, witnesses said, they saw Whitney hold the gun in the air and “cock the slide as if to load it,” according to the affidavit.

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Airsoft guns are replica firearms that use compressed gas or electric or spring-driven pistons to fire plastic pellets. The guns are designed to be non-lethal, but they can be very real looking.

Whitney was arrested early Saturday morning and charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment. He was arraigned before District Judge Roy Manwaring of Bethlehem and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail.


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