Community Corner
Weapons Charges Dropped Against Emfinger
The Towamencin man is accused of pulling a knife on a Lansdale resident, running from police and being Tasered after resisting arrest
Towamencin reident Airen Kevin Emfinger, 22, of the 700 block of Weikel Road, had two misdemeanor offenses related to brandishing a weapon dropped by Lansdale Police at his preliminary hearing Tuesday afternoon before District Judge Albert Augustine in Skippack.
Emfinger was tasered by a Lansdale Police officer on June 5 following a foot chase across the west ward of the borough after he allegedly pulled a knife on a Lansdale resident on West Mount Vernon Street near Salford Avenue.
A misdemeanor count of use of a prohibited offensive weapon and a misdemeanor count of possessing an instrument of crime were withdrawn by the Commonwealth, represented at the hearing by Officer Scott Keeler. Keeler was also the arresting officer.
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Emfinger was also released on $5,000 unsecured bail, reduced from $5,000 cash bail. If Emfinger fails to appear at his August 1 arraignment at Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas, he will be liable for the $5,000.
After the hearing, Emfinger's mother placed a pink towel over her son's head as he was lead from court to an awaiting Lansdale Police vehicle. She and Emfinger's grandmother attempted to shield his view from the Patch photographer camera.
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Emfinger's mother and grandmother both expressed confusion and awe that the press was present at Emfinger's hearing.
Emfinger faces the following charges at his arraignment:
- Simple Assault
- Terroristic Threats
- Resisting Arrest
- Recklessly Endangering Another Person
- Harassment
- Disorderly Conduct
- Public Drunkenness (summary charge)
The charges were dropped during a stipulation agreement between Lansdale Police and public defender Fiorindo Vagnozzi.
Vagnozzi said the charges were withdrawn to prevent any witnesses from testifying and to lower Emfinger's bail.
Keeler said the charges were withdrawn following discussion with the affected residents.
"After discussions with the victim and the public defender, we felt it would be the best thing," Keeler said.
Emfinger has had four criminal cases filed in Montgomery County District Court since October 2009, according to court records.
He got off on robbery and burglary charges in 2010 in Souderton Borough, but pleaded guilty to criminal defiant trespassing and was sentenced to 206 days to 12 months in prison, according to court records.
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