Defense: Man who mounted Pa. blast furnace has mental health issues

ALLENTOWN — A defense attorney says a man who climbed atop the rusting blast furnace at a former eastern Pennsylvania steel mill last month, prompting evacuation of an arts and entertainment venue now at the site, has mental health issues.

The (Allentown) Morning Call reports that defense attorney Rory Driscole said Wednesday that he doesn’t believe that 25-year-old Jonathan Wallace had any criminal intent during the more-than-21-hour ordeal July 12 at the old Bethlehem Steel Corp. site.

Wallace faces a felony charge of risking a catastrophe as well as lesser charges of reckless endangerment and defiant trespass.

A Northampton County prosecutor said authorities are working on a resolution that would provide mental health treatment, but Wallace’s behavior endangered scores of first responders who worked for hours to get him to come down.