Knife, Gun Allegedly Pulled in Fight at Trader Joe's Warehouse

By Jack Tobias

In the movie "The Untouchables," the policeman played by Sean Connery tells Eliot Ness, played by Kevin Costner, how to "get" gangster Al Capone.

"If he pulls a knife, you pull a gun," the Connery character begins.

Something like that allegedly happened at an East Allen Township warehouse Monday afternoon, when, police say, a man pulled a 6-inch-long black folding knife on a co-worker, who then pulled a legally registered pistol from his pocket and watched as the knife-wielding man ran away.

Court records identify the man allegedly wielding the knife as Michael Vega Bermudez, 31, of 338 N. Ninth St., Apt. 2, Allentown. He is charged with terroristic threats, prohibited offensive weapons, simple assault and disorderly conduct.

No one was injured.

The man with the pistol, who told police he "became scared for his life," apparently was not charged. He has a valid permit to carry a concealed weapon in Pennsylvania, the records say.

The alleged incident occurred around 4 p.m. at 6835 Silvercrest Road. The records do not identify the business, but a web search indicates it's a Trader Joe's warehouse/distribution center.

A criminal complaint filed by Trooper Chrstopher Bohenek of state police at Bethlehem also says:

—Vega Bermudez was operating a pallet lifter in the same aisle as the man with the pistol was operating a forklift. The man bumped into another employee operating a pallet lifter.

—Vega Bermudez got off his pallet lifter and walked toward the man, who told Vega Bermudez to get out of his way. Vega Bermudez then began yelling at the man "in unknown Spanish words." The man got off his forklift, and the two started a fight, which was broken up by another employee.

—Vega Bermudez then reached into his right pants pocket, pulled out the knife and flipped it open. He walked toward the man "in an aggressive manner" with the knife clutched in his right hand. The man "became scared for his life," pulled out his Glock 27, a .40-caliber pistol, displayed it to Vega Bermudez and told him to "back off."

—Vega Bermudez ran away and was later found by other employees. He was placed in custody around 4:18 p.m.

Vega Bermudez was arraigned at 10 p.m. Monday by on-duty District Judge James Narlesky of Hanover Township (Northampton County) and committed to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail, but was released Tuesday after posting bail, online court records say.