Police Chief DEFENDS Pride Arrest After Being Inundated With ‘Hundreds of Calls’+ ‘He Was Disrupting the Event’
Reading Police Chief Richard Tornielli has defended the actions of the officer who arrested Pride Rally protester Damon Atkins, telling local news that Atkins wasn’t arrested for quoting the bible but rather for being disorderly and disruptive to the event: “Our officers gave him warnings to cease that behavior as it was disrupting the event that was taking place.”
In a statement given to the media, Tornielli also said that his department has been ‘inundated’ with hundreds of harassing calls from folks voicing their displeasure with how his department handled things and that they will be investigating those that contained “threatening language” and will “pursue charges where appropriate.”
“Since the arrest of Damon Atkins, the Reading Police Department Communications Center has been inundated with phone calls from individuals voicing complaints about the arrest.
On Tuesday and Wednesday, our Communications Center fielded hundreds of calls on phone lines that are used for emergency and non-emergency requests for police assistance. These harassing phone calls have distracted our communication personnel from fielding calls related to incidents taking place in the City of Reading. This potentially creates a dangerous situation causing delays in police responses.”
Many of the phone calls received have included threats to police personnel and have contained inappropriate and vile language. The Reading Police Department and our partner law enforcement agencies are investigating the calls which have contained threatening language and will pursue charges where appropriate.
Reading Mayor Eddie Moran has also defended the arrest.
While the police chief is standing behind the officer, his department will likely have to prepare for a settlement if Atkins launches a lawsuit. Three days after the arrest, the Berks County District Attorney’s Office withdrew all charges, with County Commissioner Christian Leinbach saying “From what I have seen thus far, I believe this was an unlawful arrest and could open the City of Reading and their police department to legal action.”
When considering why the Reading Police Department is digging in their heels and doubling down rather than apologizing, the fact that they have an official liaison “to the LGBTQ Community” listed on the city of Reading’s website that is backed by the mayor might have something to do with it.
