Crime & Safety

Judge: Accused Stalker Must Surrender Weapons

Judge says David Edwards must give up any weapons after YouTube videos come to light.

An Easton man who is accused of stalking and harassing a local blogger was ordered to surrender his weapons to police Friday after YouTube videos surfaced showing him throwing knives and swords.

David Edwards, who apparently also uses the name "David Caines," was charged earlier this month with making a series of threats against Noel Jones, who operates the Neighbors of Easton blog.

Edwards, 44, of 840 Wolf Ave., is charged with stalking, harassment, and terroristic threats. 

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On Friday, District Judge Gay Elwell held a bail modification hearing for Edwards after the Northampton County pre-trial services office alerted her that Edwards had posted videos to YouTube showing him using various weapons.

Elwell ordered Edwards to surrender any weapons he owns to police until his case is resolved.

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"I'm almost happy to be rid of them," Edwards told the judge.

She ran down the list: knives, throwing stars, nunchucks, guns.

"Any kind of weapon you have is now to be relinquished to the Easton police," Elwell said.

She added: "Oh yeah, retractable batons..."

According to court records:

In November and December of 2011, Edwards began posting "increasingly hostile and volatile" comments on Neighbors of Easton's posting about the Occupy movement.

This led Jones to block Edwards, who police say believed Jones was "being brainwashed" by the Occupy movement. Police say Edwards sent messages to Jones directly, suggesting he was willing to protect by using violence, if necessary.

"Because of these postings and messages, Ms. Jones began to feel threatened by Mr. Edwards," the police affidavit reads.

Police Lt. John Remaley visited Edwards at home at Jones' request, and asked him to stop contacting her. According to police, Edwards agreed.

However, Jones contacted police last week saying that he had begun to e-mail her again.

"These messages were harassing in nature, stating that he would not be going away," the affadavit says. 

In addition to the knife-throwing video, the "David Caines" YouTube channel includes videos on self-defense, as well as numerous political commentaries.


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