Phoenixville Man Suspected 'Cross Burning' At Lock 60: Report

Editor’s note: this story was originally published in the Phoenixville Patch on December 11.

PHOENIXVILLE, PA - A Phoenixville man is headed to prison after admitting to pulling a knife on two people along Lock 60 in Mont Clare in May, according to a report.

Jason Patrick Melder, 39, reportedly yelled at the victims and asked them if they were “burning crosses,” and then threatened to kill them.

The suspect said he had heard white supremacists were in the park and were burning crosses and he was trying to stop it, but it’s not clear if he offered a justification on why he thought the victims were performing that act.

Melder was picked up on Bridge and Starr Streets in downtown Phoenixville, where they found an orange-handled knife on his person, the TImes Herald reported.

Melder will spend six to 23 months in jail.