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The Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer
National
Jason Nark

Trump merchandise seller charged with assault, robbery at president's Pa. rally

PHILADELPHIA _ A traveling Trump merchandise seller in a camouflage "Make America Great Again" hat was charged with assaulting and robbing another vendor shortly after the president's visit to Lycoming County on Monday.

According to the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, Willie Edward Singleton, 29, of South Carolina, is accused of stealing cash _around $500 _ from another vendor who had dropped a large amount of bills on Jordan Road in Mountoursvile. The men were leaving President Donald Trump's rally at Williamsport Regional Airport.

A struggle ensued, the paper reported, and Singleton allegedly punched the man "unconscious and watched him fall into the street." Singleton also allegedly stole the man's chain and a silver watch. The victim fled to a nearby Turkey Hill store and called police, telling them that his assailant wore a red "MAGA" hat.

When police caught up with Singleton, they found he'd switched out the red hat for a camo one, and police discovered folded $20 bills in his pockets, according to Pennlive.com.

Singleton, according to the Sun-Gazette, is on probation in South Carolina for burglary, firearms and domestic violence charges. In Montoursville, he was charged with two counts of robbery, simple assault, harassment, and theft. He remains in the Lycoming County jail on $300,000 bail.

Pennlive.com reported that Singleton told a district judge that he traveled to Montoursville to sell Trump memorabilia, wasn't employed, "and had used drugs in the past 24 hours."

The victim was treated for cuts his legs and face.

During his hourlong rally, Trump joked that he'd run for a fifth term _ not currently allowed by the U.S. Constitution _ and accused former Vice President Joe Biden, a Democratic presidential contender, of "deserting" Pennsylvania when he moved out of state at the age of 10 so his father could find work.

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