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Man charged for allegedly throwing Molotov cocktail at Adams County courthouse

  • Rachel McDevitt/StateImpact Pennsylvania

 iStock

(Harrisburg) — A midstate man is facing charges for allegedly throwing a Molotov cocktail through the window of a county courthouse.

Gettysburg Police says surveillance video from Dec. 22 shows a man wearing distinctive sneakers and a backpack throwing an incendiary device at the Adams County courthouse, breaking a window.

Investigators say the recovered device was made of a yellow bottle that appeared to be antique. It was filled with liquid and matches and had a cotton sock for a wick.

Detectives say borough police officers crossed paths with Samson Paul Yohe, 27, on New Year’s Eve and noticed his clothing was similar to the suspect’s shown on video.

A search of his home Jan. 2 turned up the clothing, as well as lighter fluid, matches, and several antique glass bottles.

Yohe, of Gettysburg has been charged with arson, risking a catastrophe and unlawful possession of weapons of mass destruction in connection with the incident.

Prosecutors say he was previously convicted of terroristic threats in Adams County in 2007 and of aggravated assault in York County in 2018.

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