Homeless Man Allegedly Threatens Borough Officer

A driver pulled over by police Thursday night on Main Street in Hellertown for having a faulty registration plate light ended up verbally threatening an officer, according to court records.

”I’m going to ---- you up” and “Wait until you’re not hiding behind that badge, I’m going to ---- you up,” Jeremy Earl Niemeier told Hellertown Patrolman John Donato after Donato took him into custody for another vehicle offense--failing to install an ignition interlock required by Niemeier’s driver’s license, the records say.

In fact, Donato later found the ignition interlock unit--required for drivers with two or more DUI offenses--in the trunk of Niemeier’s car, a 1999 silver Dodge Stratus.

According to a September 2011 state Department of Transportation fact sheet, an ignition interlock is designed to prevent people under the influence of alcohol from driving. Drivers must blow into the device before starting the vehicle. If the device detects alcohol, it will prevent the vehicle from starting.

Niemeier, 30, told police he is homeless.

The records provide the following details:

-- Donato spotted the Stratus and its faulty plate light at 7:10pm in the 1700 block of Main Street. He had the driver, later identified as Niemeier, pull into a parking lot. Niemeier then jumped out of the car and began coming toward Donato.

-- Donato asked Niemeier four times to get back in his car and he refused each time. Only when Donato did Niemeier comply.

-- Niemeier would only show Donato a Pennsylvania state ID card. He told Donato he “was not going to cooperate, answer any questions or provide any other documents.”

-- Donato discovered Niemeier had an ignition interlock license. He asked Niemeier if the unit was installed and he said it was, but refused to show Donato.

-- Donato told Niemeier the car was going to be towed because there was no proof of insurance. As Donato conducted an impound inventory, he discovered the ignition interlock unit was not installed and later found it in the trunk.

It was when Donato took Niemeier into custody for the ignition interlock violation, that Niemeier allegedly verbally threatened the officer.

Court records show that Niemeier was sentenced in October 2008 in Bucks County Court--and jailed in the county prison--after pleading guilty to DUI/second offense. Records also show he was sentenced in Northampton County Court in December 2007--in a Hellertown case--for use/possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Niemeier was charged with terroristic threats, illegally operating a motor vehicle not equipped with ignition interlock, disorderly conduct and other offenses.

He was arraigned Friday by District Judge Robert Hawke of Lehigh Township and committed to Northampton County Prison after failing to post $5,000 bail.