Trail hiker accused of robbing Duncannon convenience store - PennLive.com

[WhiteBlaze]

Trail hiker accused of robbing Duncannon convenience store PennLive.com, PA - 12 minutes ago by Joe Elias, The Patriot-News Forrest Edward Swearingen got on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina and headed north last spring. ...

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[Dances with Mice]

It's hikers like that that give crack users a bad reputation.

[Lone Wolf]

dumbass doper

[SmokyMtn Hiker]

What an idiot, but most thieves are!

[ki0eh]

If he wanted money, he would have hit the All American Truckstop. My guess is he just wanted a trip up the creek to a warm bed with a storm coming.

[Sly]

Bad headline... he may have been a hiker once, but he obviously wasn't a hiker when he got arrested. Think I'll leave a comment.

[Erin]

Not a hiker. A doper dumbass on foot. Big difference.

[Ziggy Trek]

Transients calling themselves hikers seems to be a growing fad.

[Serial 07]

Not a hiker. A doper dumbass on foot. Big difference.

true...

Bad headline... he may have been a hiker once, but he obviously wasn't a hiker when he got arrested. Think I'll leave a comment.

please do...

what a horribly thought out article...boo patriot gazette...i mean really, he headed north last spring...if he's still in PA, he's a section hiker at best...no?

[Sly]

please do...

Here's what I left....

Posted by ATHiker on 01/08/09 at 10:29PM


The headline by Joe Elias is misleading and gives the majority of Appalachian Trail hikers a bad name. Since Mr. Swearingen started residing in Duncannon last June, he's not really a trail hiker, is he? After 6 months, I would say he's more of a resident.


Duncannon happens to be an important trail town, and such activities are not only frowned upon by serious trail hikers, but reported to the proper authorities.


I hope your readers do not start thinking all Appalachian Trail hikers are like Mr Swearingen.

I'm sure I wouldn't have reported dick breath for doing drugs (it's the libertarian in me), but I would have for robbing a store at knife point.

[Serial 07]

thanks SLY!

[snaplok]

Wow, can't believe the headline. Should have read something like "Inbread crackhead with no life robs store with knife."
Gives hikers a bad name.

[STEVEM]

Let's be honest. That guy looks far to clean and normal to be a hiker.

[Rockhound]

I cant help but wonder if the guy drove into Duncannon 6 months ago and set up residence if the article would have read "motorist" robs convenience store. Somehow I think not. This guy is an idiot and his actions could have an effect on the 2009 class. A lot of locals believe the stereotype that all hikers are dirty drug crazed trouble makers. This article simply perpetuates that myth. Shame on the Patriot News. A newspaper from a trail town should have made the distinction that this idiot does not represent the vast majority of real hikers that pass through Duncannon each year. The fact is, the trail community is comprised of doctors, lawyers, engineers, soldiers, law enforcement personel, retirees, recent college grads, pilots, teachers etc..that bring a lot of money into these towns. Unfortunately, as with any large group, there is always a small percentage whose actions can be detremental to the rest.

[Pedaling Fool]

I cant help but wonder if the guy drove into Duncannon 6 months ago and set up residence if the article would have read "motorist" robs convenience store. Somehow I think not. This guy is an idiot and his actions could have an effect on the 2009 class. A lot of locals believe the stereotype that all hikers are dirty drug crazed trouble makers. This article simply perpetuates that myth. Shame on the Patriot News. A newspaper from a trail town should have made the distinction that this idiot does not represent the vast majority of real hikers that pass through Duncannon each year. The fact is, the trail community is comprised of doctors, lawyers, engineers, soldiers, law enforcement personel, retirees, recent college grads, pilots, teachers etc..that bring a lot of money into these towns. Unfortunately, as with any large group, there is always a small percentage whose actions can be detremental to the rest.

The locals in the trail towns know the real deal, this article won't color their opinion. Locals are getting sick of hikers because of the current bad apples out there. This story will have no affect on the class of 2009.

However, it was in bad taste for the paper to refer to this guy as a hiker - he isn't and that type of press does color the opinions of people who really don't know hikers.

[Sly]

Ha... they ended up changing the headline. Score one for me!

[Panzer1]

Note: Swearingen had been incorrectly called a "hiker" in earlier versions of this story.

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/ind...f_robbing.html


Apparently someone must have complained about calling him a hiker.

Panzer

[Sly]

http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/ind...f_robbing.html


Apparently someone must have complained about calling him a hiker.

Panzer

Yeah I did. Sly aka ATHiker on Pennlive.com

[Panzer1]

you are an over sensitive moron...

I don't think the guy thought much of your complaint.

Panzer

[Panzer1]

Out of work and needing money for drugs, police said, Swearingen allegedly robbed the Uni-Mart in the first block of Cumberland Street in Duncannon shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday with a knife.

Anyone meet him on the trail?

I wouldn't want to run into this guy on the trail.

Panzer