Public hosing
Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 12:27 am
Police: Man claims to be 'sovereign citizen' after urinating on building
By Manuel Gamiz Jr., Of The Morning Call
4:41 PM EST, February 16, 2012
A New Jersey man was charged with urinating in public early Thursday outside a downtown Allentown 7-Eleven store, according to court records.
Robert Merritt, 42, of Phillipsburg, was stopped at 3:05 a.m. Thursday after he did his business in front of the convenience store, 102 N. Seventh St., next to a Redbox DVD machine, police said. Several people and vehicles were in the parking lot at the time, police said.
When an officer approached him, Merritt replied that he is a "sovereign citizen" and the officer could "kiss my black (expletive)," according to court records. Merritt had a strong odor of alcohol and had slurred speech, police said.
After he was handcuffed, Merritt continued to curse at the police officer, police said.
Merritt was charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned Thursday by Senior Judge John Dugan and sent to Lehigh County Prison under $10,000 bail.
By Manuel Gamiz Jr., Of The Morning Call
4:41 PM EST, February 16, 2012
A New Jersey man was charged with urinating in public early Thursday outside a downtown Allentown 7-Eleven store, according to court records.
Robert Merritt, 42, of Phillipsburg, was stopped at 3:05 a.m. Thursday after he did his business in front of the convenience store, 102 N. Seventh St., next to a Redbox DVD machine, police said. Several people and vehicles were in the parking lot at the time, police said.
When an officer approached him, Merritt replied that he is a "sovereign citizen" and the officer could "kiss my black (expletive)," according to court records. Merritt had a strong odor of alcohol and had slurred speech, police said.
After he was handcuffed, Merritt continued to curse at the police officer, police said.
Merritt was charged with indecent exposure, open lewdness, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned Thursday by Senior Judge John Dugan and sent to Lehigh County Prison under $10,000 bail.