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Tilden Township police were called to the store on Saturday, April 22, the department said in a release. A 41-year-old Reading man told officers he was on the pedestrian crosswalk when the driver of a gray sedan revved the engine and sped toward him, authorities said.
The driver, who police identified as 20-year-old Logan G. Harding of Exeter, parked and was headed toward the store when the victim confronted him, officials said.
Harding allegedly "responded with racial slurs and stated 'Next time walk faster [expletive.]" Multiple witnesses told police that Harding continued to follow the man around the parking lot on foot shouting racial slurs, per the release.
Police arrived at the Walmart while Harding was inside, and spoke with him as he returned to his car, the department said. Harding allegedly "admitted to the racial slurs and told police that they were said in 'self-defense.'"
He also admitted to "not slowing down" while driving the crosswalk, they claimed.
The Kutztown University student was charged on Wednesday, April 26 after police obtained surveillance footage from the parking lot.
In addition to felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor ethnic intimidation, Harding is charged with terroristic threats, harassment, disorderly conduct, and multiple traffic offenses, according to court documents.
He was arrested in his dorm room on Thursday, April 27, and currently awaits arraignment, Tilden police added.
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