19 June 2023- A Martinsburg man is behind bars after allegedly walking around Chambersburg streets and highways naked and claiming to be a sovereign citizen. David Edward Browne is charged with misdemeanor indecent exposure, misdemeanor resisting arrest, misdemeanor open lewdness, misdemeanor disorderly conduct, summary public drunkenness, and summary pedestrian walking on highway. Browne failed to post bail of $200,000.
Around 9:36am on June 18th, Pennsylvania State Police were dispatched to the area of Lincoln Way East and Falling Spring Road (Kentucky Fried Chicken) in Guilford Township for a report of a naked man walking around in public. While enroute, police were told by dispatch that the man had allegedly walked towards the highway and was walking on I-81NB.
When Troopers arrived to talk to the man, he was allegedly given commands to stop walking multiple times. The man, now known to be David Browne, was told that he would be tased if he wasn’t compliant. Troopers allegedly tried to tase Browne but the first spread was unsuccessful, with him continuing to walk down 81 and mumbling words under his breath. Browne was then successfully tased and taken to the ground.
During the arrest, Browne was allegedly noncompliant with efforts to put his hands behind his back. He was tased again in order for police to fully take him into custody. Browne was wrapped in a blanket and EMS were called to the scene.
When finally put in custody, Browne allegedly gave police his name and told them that he was a sovereign citizen. Continuing, Browne allegedly said he didn’t mean to hurt police and asked them if they were going to get him help.
Police were allegedly told by Browne that he had been walking and had gotten rid of his cell phone because he was in fear people were hacking into it. When asked why he was naked, Browne allegedly told police nobody would give him a ride wearing clothes so he took them off. He also allegedly added that he was being “treated inhumane by people not giving him a ride”.
Browne was taken to Chambersburg Hospital afterwards for treatment.
Browne is behind bars on $200,000 bail. His preliminary hearing is set for June 27th.
Sources: Docket Number: MJ-39302-CR-0000262-2023, Incident Number: PA 2023-808875
