The 3:30 video, published by Jeff Kohler on YouTube, starts mid engagement with the Constable joined by a second Constable wearing a gray uniform; both officers can be heard requesting to see Kohler’s identification. When Kohler refuses asserting that Pennsylvania “is not a stop and identify state” the Constable threatens him.

“How about we wait until you get out of sight and I drop you and beat the fuck out of you after I taser you” the (as yet unidentified) Constable is heard threatening. After the Constable’s threat, Kohler can be seen walking away, but is also heard getting louder and upset. An onlooker pleads with Kohler to regain his composure saying that kids are around.In what appears to be an effort to bring their actions into a Constitutional gray area both officers begin to claim justifications while backing off. The Constable can be heard saying Kohler resembles someone with a warrant while the other officer mouseily claims they were threatened with a “cell phone.”

William White an area resident who recently moved from Lewistown to Lock Haven said “It sickens me, as a veteran, to see police handle situations without being professional.” White continued “I don’t feel very protected or served with officers like him on the streets.”

In the 2016 Supreme Court decision Utah v Strieff, Justice Clarence Thomas repeatedly writes that identification “fishing expeditions” are “unconstitutional police conduct.” Thomas draws a clear distinction between such an “illegal stop” and one where the police have reasonable suspicion of a crime.

“This unfortunately is indicative of a typical reaction by law enforcement when a citizen takes a principled and proper stand on their rights” said civil rights activist and Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Drew Bingaman. “Even the real person the Constable was looking for hardly deserves to be ‘tazed and beaten the fuck out of,’ criminal justice just isn’t supposed to work that way in the Commonwealth or the US in general. These men need to be investigated by the AG’s office for Official Oppression and should be considered for removal.”

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania it is fully legal to walk about your community without carrying identification; you are not required to produce identification to police upon request.
It is certainly not legal, however, to make threats of physical harm against an otherwise peaceful person out to pick up a cold drink. PA State Police, the Mifflin County District Attorney’s Office, and Judge David Barron were not reachable at the time of publishing. You can watch the full video below. ***Warning: Strong Language***

**Edit** A previous version of this article misidentified the second law enforcement officer as a PA State Trooper. However, while the uniform is very similar to the State Police, this was incorrect. The second Constable is as yet unidentified.

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