2006 Flashback: Col. John Liptok unhappy with Pottsville Police over chase

Col. John Liptok and his wife, Chris, Pottsville, have four children who attended Tuesday’s event. Liptok said his children, along with a group of others, were “forced off the property,” and chased to 16th Street near the baseball field. “That’s kind of dangerous for police to force children down the dark road there,” Liptok said. The Liptoks are not only concerned with the safety of their children being jeopardized by leaving the guarded pool area, but also say they are unhappy with the way police treated the children. Liptok said his children informed him that some children were smoking and were asked to leave the premises. The use of any tobacco products is strictly prohibited on the property even by adults, but especially children, Moser said Wednesday morning. However, the Liptoks maintain that even the teens who were not smoking were forced to leave. Liptok also said police officers patted down and searched the children and arrests were made. None of Liptok’s children were involved in the arrests. Moser also said he isn’t aware of the officers patting down all the teens, but if arrests were made it is standard procedure. Event staff also search backpacks upon entry to make sure no alcohol or illegal substances get into the event. “There is a zero-tolerance policy out there. If the officers toss you out, you’re out for the rest of the season,” Moser said. Moser also said the majority of the crowd that attends the events is there to have a good time. However, police are always on duty to ensure the safety of those teens and ensure there’s no trouble. “We’ve had no major incidents of anything that should be construed as danger,” Moser said. Moser said these events are rare and minor. With nearly 600 teens in attendance, two teens getting mouthy with an officer and refusing to obey the rules is “like a flea on an elephant,” he said.