State police search for man in Duncannon involved with setting fires along hiking trail

PERRY COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM)– There was a large police presence in Duncannon for a man who officials say is a suspect involved with setting fires along a hiking trail.

According to a news release from state police in Newport, David Browne was being taken into custody by rangers from the county’s Department of Conservation Natural Resource on Thursday around 6:30 p.m.

There were fires set along the Appalachian Trail that Browne was allegedly involved in, troopers say.

Upon being taken into custody, Browne assaulted one of the rangers and fled the scene. The search lasted two hours for Browne but was called off for safety reasons, an abc27 News crew at the scene of the search was told.

Browne is described as being about 6’4″ tall, weighs around 185 pounds, and has brown hair along with brown eyes. He was reportedly wearing a gray shirt when he was last seen.

The public is not believed to be in any danger, troopers say, but any suspicious activity is encouraged to be reported to law enforcement agencies.