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David Edward Browne, 27, of Shippensburg, is in Pennsylvania State Police custody as of 10:46 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 25. According to Trooper Frazer he was taken in without further incident following the fires on the Appalachian Trail and the alleged assault of a ranger.
Daily Voice readers claim he was found near Interstate 81. Traffic was delayed on I-81 in Cumberland County, as Daily Voice reported, but readers also told us there were helicopters and a drone circling the area over Perry and Cumberland counties Friday morning.
David previously lived in Martinsburg, West Virginia according to court documents.
For this incident, he has been charged with felony Aggravated Assault - Attempts to cause or causes bodily injury to designated individuals, misdemeanor simple assault, felon evading arrest or detention on foot, misdemeanor terroristic threats with the intent to terrorize another, according to his latest court docket.
David has a criminal record in Pennsylvania. He was meant to serve time for an indecent exposure in June 2023. He was initially held in the Franklin County Jail on $200,000 in bail and his original charges also included the following:
Misdemeanor Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforce.
- Misdemeanor Open Lewdness.
- Misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct Hazardous/Physical Offense (2 Counts).
- Summary Pedestrian Walking On Highway.
- Summary Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct.
Those additional offenses were all dropped or withdrawn as part of a negotiated plea deal, court records show. He was sentenced only for the indecent exposure on Aug. 2, 2023, to serve 42 days to 23 months in confinement "The defendant shall be paroled at the expiration of the minimum sentence and upon approval of home plan," as stated in court document. In addition to probation requirements "The defendant shall undergo Mental Health Assessment / Treatment and pay all costs," as added to the sentence. This ruling was made by President Judge Shawn D. Meyers and filed Todd A. Rock, court records show.
His bail amount and pending court appearance dates for the incident on the Appalachian Trail were unavailable as of 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 25. Follow Daily Voice for updates.
ORIGINAL:
A ranger on the Appalachian Trail was assaulted by a wanted man setting fires along the Appalachian Trail, Pennsylvania State Police announced on Aug. 24.
David Edward Browne was spotted setting fires at 1579 Little Buffalo Road, Juniata Township, Newport at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, state police detailed in a release late that same evening.
State police from Newport station were called to help the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources of Perry County apprehend David.
He "physically assaulted one of the rangers on the scene" and fled, the police said.
Due to safety concerns, the police halted their search, but they are urging the public to report any suspicious activity.
David is described as a white man who is 6'4"tall and weighs 185 lbs. with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a gray shirt
Daily Voice noticed the name is the same as a missing Shippensburg man who is "at risk of mental disability subjecting himself or others to danger." The description is nearly identical and he was even pictured in a gray shirt. Daily Voice reached out to the police and confirmed that this is indeed the same man.
Anyone with information on David Browne’s whereabouts is asked to call PSP Newport at 717-567-3110.
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