A 2021 involuntary mental health commitment prohibited a Hempfield man from possessing a firearm, but Delmont police said they confiscated three loaded handguns from him after an incident at a Dairy Queen on Saturday, according to court papers released Wednesday.

The man claimed to be an undercover state trooper who was “fighting the shadow fake presidency,” the records show.

Police were called to the area of the Route 66 Dairy Queen about 1:30 p.m. Saturday after a motorist reported an erratic driver wearing a bright yellow safety vest and rainbow clown wig walking into the restaurant with a gun. Court papers indicate that Dairy Queen employees told police that Jan V. Stawovy, 61, had been inside about 45 minutes earlier, laid $120 on the counter and said it was a “tip for non-Democrats” before leaving.

Delmont Officer Greg Stull caught up with Stawovy as he exited the restaurant. Police said they found a loaded gun in his pocket, and Stawovy continued yelling and using profanity during his arrest. He repeatedly claimed he was a law enforcement officer working on a drug sting and wanted to restore former President Donald Trump to power, according to court papers.

There were customers inside the Dairy Queen at the time, police said.

Stawovy told authorities he knew he shouldn’t have a gun and his concealed carry permit had been revoked. Investigators said they found two more loaded guns in his SUV.

He was taken to a hospital and involuntarily committed, according to court papers. Stawovy is awaiting arraignment on charges of firearms not to be carried without a license, person not to possess, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct. He did not have an attorney listed in online court records. No one answered a phone number listed for Stawovy.

No other details were available from court records about his 2021 commitment.

Pastor Ron Ingelido of New Stanton Assembly of God said Stawovy was banned from church property and services in August 2021 because of actions and outbursts during the previous few weeks.

Ingelido sent Stawovy a letter indicating he was no longer welcome. Stawovy posted a photo of the letter on his Facebook page.

“We have had no contact with him since the letter,” Ingelido said.

Stawovy was convicted at a 2017 nonjury trial of summary trespassing and was ordered to get a mental health evaluation. Court papers indicate that he trespassed on his family’s property in Reduction.

Stull was praised this week by District Attorney Nicole Ziccarelli, Dairy Queen owner Steve Vanderhorst and Delmont borough council for his actions to defuse a potentially dangerous situation.

“When we go to the Apple’n Arts Festival, to Delmont Daze or to the Dairy Queen for an ice cream cone, we feel safe because of the tireless efforts of the Delmont Police Department,” Vanderhorst wrote in a letter read by Mayor Alyce Urban during Tuesday’s council meeting.

“I’m not sure what more we can say,” Urban said.

Stull didn’t miss a beat.

“Hopefully not much,” he said with a nervous laugh, adding he is not the type for public attention. “I just try to do my thing.”

During the meeting, Ziccarelli donated two tactical ballistic shields to the department to help in such potentially dangerous incidents.

“Your chief reached out about a need the department has,” Ziccarelli said. “We want to meet that need, and if we can, we’re going to do it.”

“A lot of times, we have one officer on duty,” Police Chief T.J. Klobucar said. “And when incidents happen, you can’t always wait for backup.”

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