SUNBURY, Pa. – A volunteer firefighter is no longer with the Americus Hose Company in Sunbury after a social media post apparently led to a bomb threat.
The fire department’s general manager, Bob Hare, said this morning that firefighter Tony Bendele resigned his position after a message he posted to social media went viral. The post was related to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump in Butler County on Saturday evening.
Hare, along with Americus President Jerome Alex, said Monday morning they received word that Bendele, who served as a captain in the department, resigned early Monday morning.
The post, which was viewed on X, formerly Twitter, had more than 2 million views, which also led to hundreds of emails and calls to the city, and to the Americus.
Monday morning, the Americus closed its doors for the day after a bomb threat came in while patrons were inside eating breakfast.
A bomb-detecting dog from Geisinger Medical Center, in Danville, arrived and cleared the scene within an hour.
Alex said Bendle’s actions in no way represent that of the Americus.
“The Americus does not condone violence in any way,” he said Monday.
“Mr. Bendele is no longer part of the fire company.”
Alex said the Americus sends its condolences to a firefighter from western Pennsylvania who was killed during the shooting that took place at a Trump rally in Butler.
“We are all saddened to learn of the death of a fellow brother whose heroics action to protect his family by shielding them shows who he was,” Alex said.
Alex said the department was thankful to Sunbury and state police, along with first responders, who arrived at the Americus Monday morning during the bomb threat investigation.
Alex said the Americus is working with city officials and city police on the investigation.
There will be a press conference today at noon at the Sunbury Police Department, Chief Travis Bremigen said.
More information will be posted as it becomes available.
