Harmar police charge homeless man with threatening to kill officers

A homeless man is accused by Harmar police of threatening to fight and shoot officers after they responded to a disturbance call at a township hotel.

David James Land, 48, was charged with terroristic threats, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Officers were dispatched to the Marriott hotel at 10:45 p.m. Monday, police said, for reports of an intoxicated and disorderly man. The hotel’s overnight manager directed the officers to Land, who was slumped over a table at the outside patio area, with alcoholic drinks in front of him, according to a criminal complaint. Land was heavily intoxicated, police said.

As the officers went to speak to Land, he gave them the middle finger and asked why they were there, police said. Land began walking toward the Sheetz gas station, the complaint said.

Believing Land would cause a disturbance there, officers said they followed him to Sheetz. Land refused to speak to the officers and then became verbally and physically aggressive, according to the complaint.

When police put Land in handcuffs, he became angry and threatened the officers, the complaint said. Police drove him to the Harmar police station.

The officers carried Land into the station because he refused to move fought with them as they attempted to restrain him to the bench, the complaint said. While they were writing the complaint, Land was screaming obscenities and threatened the officers and their families, police said.

Land faces a preliminary hearing Oct. 23 before District Judge David Sosovicka.