WILKES-BARRE, PA — A Scranton man is facing assault and terroristic threat charges after he was identified as the individual caught on video allegedly menacing participants of a weekend "No Kings" rally in Wilkes-Barre with a firearm.
Police arrested Michael Paul Kolarik, 52, of Scranton, who is now in custody.
The incident occurred Saturday morning during the rally on Public Square, part of a nationwide series of anti-Trump protests. According to the criminal complaint, police were monitoring the demonstration when they received multiple reports, shortly before noon, of an attendee being threatened by a man with a gun.
Kolarik was driving a red Jeep Wrangler decorated with Donald Trump political flags. Several rally-goers described seeing the man flash and point a weapon toward the crowd. Upon stopping Kolarik, police found him in possession of two loaded pistols, both of which were legally owned.
The rally, attended by hundreds of area residents, was otherwise described as peaceful. Kolarik is being held on charges that include assault and terroristic threats related to the confrontation.
