The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Police remove speaker from meeting
James Troutman often speaks against mask mandates in schools
ROYERSFORD » School district police forcibly removed a North Limerick Road man from Mondays night’s Spring-Ford School Board meeting after he became unruly and started shouting when the school board president tried to cut him off.
James Troutman, a frequent speaker against mask mandates at both SpringFord and Pottsgrove school board meetings, was speaking for the second time late Monday in the wake of a school board vote to lift the district’s mask mandate on Jan. 17, the date Gov. Tom Wolf has set for the state mandate to be lifted.
Speaking at the beginning of the meeting Troutman called a vote to spend $30,000 on an on-site fast testing program at SpringFord schools “a fascism experiment” and has frequently said at both school board meetings that masks, which he describes as an unlawful medical experiment, violate “the Nuremberg Code.”
But it was during the board’s second public comment period that Troutman was removed.
Troutman insisted that
COVID-19 vaccines are “experimental” and will not be approved for years and then called district nurse Trish Smith, who had spoken earlier, “delusional.”
That was when School Board President Colleen Zasowski decided she had had enough.
Citing the board’s policy against saying derogatory things about individuals during the public comment period she told Troutman to “take a seat.”
“I have three minutes to speak. You cannot interrupt me, you are breaking the law,” Troutman shouted as two school district police officers approached him.
“Chief Boyer,” she said, addressing the David Boyer, who heads the district’s police force, “please have him removed. I am done.”
“I am not done!” Troutman shouted.
“Sir, you’ve been disruptive,” said district solicitor Mark Fitzgerald.
“So call the Royersford Police then,” Troutman yelled. “You cannot stop me, this is my time.”
As police approached him at the podium, Troutman can be heard to say “you’re going to physically remove me from a (obscenity) stand?
Tase me at a school board meeting?”
Although the school district video of the meeting did not show the confrontation on-screen, and the sound was cut, a member of the audience shot a brief video of Troutman’s removal.
“Don’t touch me,” Troutman said as the officers attempted to take hold of him.
“OK, now you’re under arrest,” one of the officers said. “For what?” Troutman replies before the video ends.
According to the school district video, the meeting ended shortly thereafter, although the sound was never restored.
Spring-Ford Superintendent Robert Rizzo issued a statement Tuesday indicating that in fact, Troutman was not arrested.
“Chief Boyer made an arrest warning, and was quickly able to calm Mr. Troutman so that they could leave the meeting with incident,” Erin Crew, the district’s director of communications, marketing, and media, replied in response to a query from MediaNews Group.
“Unfortunately, during the Nov. 15 work session meeting, an audience member caused a disturbance and, following multiple warnings, was asked to leave the building,” Rizzo’s statement said.
“After a verbal exchange with two Spring-Ford Police Officers, officers escorted the individual out of the meeting. No arrest was made by Spring-Ford Police or by Limerick Police Department, who provided additional support during the meeting.”
“According to Policy 904.1, if a member of the public uses obscenities or communicates in an abusive, loud, insulting, demeaning or otherwise inappropriate manner, they will receive warning that their behavior is inappropriate and will be asked to communicate civilly. After receiving appropriate notice, if the conduct continues, the speaker may be asked to leave the premises,” Rizzo wrote. “If the person refuses to leave after direction to do so, the superintendent or authorized personnel may seek the assistance of law enforcement and request that law enforcement takes such action as is deemed necessary.”
Rizzo also wrote, “while I am disturbed by last night’s incident, I am determined to support our school community and reaffirm our commitment to creating a safe, inclusive environment for all.”
“Our commitment as educators is to provide a safe learning environment that demonstrates respect and integrity,” said Rizzo. “This commitment goes for members of our board of school directors as well. The school board intends to promote mutual respect, civility, and orderly conduct among district stakeholders, including community members.”