A Tamaqua area man who stopped the Tamaqua Halloween Parade while wearing a costume was charged with disorderly conduct by police.

According to police, officers were dispatched to the area of the East End Fire Company for a man wearing a sheep skull mask at 7:20 p.m. on Oct. 28. The man, later identified as Andrew Kemmerer, 36, of Newkirk, claimed that he was a parade participant so police told him to keep walking.

The complainant said that the man had stopped in front of a group of dance school students and continued to stare at them without moving. She said she was afraid of the man’s actions and had to protect the youngsters in the parade.

Police found the man a short distance away and said he would not provide identification or tell police who he was.

Officers told him to get into the police car but he refused. Police then took Kemmerer, who was carrying a sword and a stick, to the ground and handcuffed. During the struggle, an officer received an abrasion to his left knee.

At the police station, Kemmerer told police his name. A criminal history check revealed that he had previously been charged with simple assault and prohibited offensive weapons.

He was charged with disorderly conduct and released into the custody of a friend.