Police: Gun pulled in snow removal dispute

BENSALEM TWP., Pa. - January 12, 2011

Bensalem Township Police arrested 26-year-old Eddie Simmons of the 1300 block of Neshaminy Valley Drive.

Police were called to Simmons' apartment complex around 8:20 a.m.

According to officials, the victim had been operating a snow blower near Simmons' car.

A subcontractor, who asked that we not use his name, says he was doing his job blowing snow when Simmons became enraged that his car had been plowed in and demanded that he do something about it.

"I basically told him I'm not with the plowing crew. I'm actually the snow blowing-shovel crew, so take it up with the office," the subcontractor told Action News.

With that, he says Eddie Simmons allegedly came unhinged and did something he never would have expected.

"He pulled out a gun, stuck it to my cheek, and basically said, now you're going to go over there and you're going to get my car," the victim told Action News.

In milliseconds, the worker says images of his life, wife and kids flashed before him.

"It's amazing what you can think of in a millisecond, what goes through your mind when somebody pulls a gun on you," the victim said.

The worker says he tried to remain calm and told Simmons he'd see what he could do.

Simmons then allegedly put the gun away and went in his apartment.

The worker called police who say they found Simmons armed with a 9mm handgun loaded with eight rounds of ammunition.

He had nothing to say to cameras as he was led into a court hearing.

Simmons was charged with aggravated assault with firearm, terroristic threats and related offenses that carry up to 20 years in jail.

He works at a local music shop, but instead of digging out and going to work like everyone else, the police say he's dug himself a much deeper hole.

"What would have taken him 20 minutes, he's now going to be sitting up there in a small 8x8 cell reflecting on his actions," Bensalem Police Superintendent Fred Harran said.

The worker, left shaken but uninjured, says he's had weird things happen to him on the job, but this is one he'll never forget.

"I was minding my own business, trying to get done as fast as possible and surprise, surprise, there's a gun in my face cause there's snow on somebody's car that I had nothing to do with," he said.

Simmons is being held on $500,000 bail. He'll be back in court for a preliminary hearing next week.

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