Crime & Safety
Police: Man Threatened to Kill Strip Club Bouncer
James D. Reininger accused of threats towards security guard at strip club, as well as police, and Easton hospital staff.
A man who was drunk inside a Wilson strip club threatened to shoot and kill a club security official, two borough police officers and, later on, hospital emergency room staffers, court records say.
But the records do not say if the suspect, James D. Reininger, 43, who has a Warren County address, actually had a gun during the incident that started early Saturday at Spanky’s East, formerly known as C.R. Fanny's.
What the records do say is that when Patrolman Stephen A. Homoki arrived at the 1700 Butler St. club around 12:30am, he found Reininger and the security official on the parking lot. The official had managed to handcuff the suspect, who was lying face down.
According to a criminal complaint filed by Homoki:
The suspect tried to assault the security official while yelling he was going to shoot and kill him. Ambulance personnel were called because the suspect suffered facial injuries while being subdued.
And as with the security official, Reininger threatened to shoot and kill the ambulance personnel. He also “repeatedly” threatened to shoot and kill Homoki and Officer Michael Vernotica.
The suspect was taken to Easton Hospital, where he threatened to shoot and kill “everyone present.” That included a nurse and other emergency room personnel. He also attempted to bite a hospital security officer.
Reininger, whose address is listed as 561 Harmony Brass Castle Road, was charged with four counts of terroristic threats, two counts each of simple assault and disorderly conduct and one count each of harassment and public drunkenness/similar misconduct.
He was arraigned at 5:45am Saturday by on-duty District Judge Todd Strohe of Bangor and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $20,000 bail.