Man arrested for intentionally striking York County fairground security officer with truck
West Manchester Township PA April 24 2018 A Mississippi man is accused of striking a fairground security officer with his truck over the weekend, according to police.
West Manchester Township Police say Richard Van Egmond, 72, drove his truck into the woman Saturday, April 21, while at the York Fairgrounds.
The officer had asked him to move his truck from a fire lane before he had hit her, officials said.
Van Egmond, of Bolton, is charged with two counts of aggravated assault, and one count each of simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, and disorderly conduct.
Allegations: Police were sent to the fairgrounds just before 2 p.m. Saturday, which was during the the Train Collectors Association’s spring meet.
Charging documents allege that the security officer asked Van Egmond to move his truck, which had a trailer and was parked in a fire lane near the west side of Memorial Hall.
He became argumentative, police said, and he refused to move his vehicle or give the officer his name. The officer went into the building and contacted the event coordinator, and the two went back outside, according to police.
The officer stood in front of the vehicle while the event coordinator stood to the left of her, and Van Egmond started revving his engine a few times, charging documents allege.
He then turned his wheels to the right, put the vehicle in drive, lunged forward and struck the officer, police said. The truck then proceeded forward to the end of the lane, turned right, then headed northbound, before fairground security came and were able to get Van Egmond to stop, officials said.
After she was hit, the security officer complained of severe pain to her lower back, and she was taken by ambulance to York Hospital, court documents state.
Van Egmond spoke to police, and he denied striking her with his car, officials said.
However, two witnesses told police they saw Van Egmond giving the officer a hard time and strike her with his truck, court documents state.
Van Egmond was taken to the county’s central booking unit where he was arraigned on the charges. He remains free on $50,000 unsecured bail, meaning if he does not show up for court proceedings he could forfeit his bail.
Van Egmond does not have an attorney listed. A number found for him had been disconnected when called Monday, April 23.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 11 at District Judge Keith Albright’s office.
york dispatch
