An Allentown man faces charges for allegedly trying to enter a padlocked apartment above a fire-damaged garage in April in Wind Gap, according to court records.

A tenant of the property in the first block of West Second Street told police the 59-year-old was told during the incident the afternoon of April 30 that he was not to enter the property but that he did anyway, Slate Belt Regional police wrote in the records. A neighbor reported to police having seen the man trying to enter the structure by prying open the door, while wearing a yellow firefighter’s helmet, police said.

The man told the neighbor he was a “‘fire inspector’ as to ensure the neighbor he was in an Official Capacity to be on the property,” police wrote.

The police department on Tuesday withdrew a charge of defiant trespass in the case and refiled the same charge, along with a charge of impersonating a public servant. Both are misdemeanors.

Court records did not indicate the suspect was sent to the Northampton County Prison. He will face a preliminary hearing to determine if there is sufficient evidence to send the charges toward trial in Northampton County Court.

A call for comment to an attorney for the suspect was not immediately returned.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.

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