Doug Whiteman and Meg Kinnard • The Associated Press
An Ohio man arrested for carrying a gun and asking to see the president has ties to Athens.
Joseph Sean McVey, 23, of Coshocton, works for Diles Hearing Centers, 275 W. Union St., according to a Monday article on The Athens NEWS' website. McVey's aunt Diane McVey spoke with The Athens NEWS, but declined to comment to The Post. McVey's lawyer also declined to comment.
McVey was arrested in a rental-car parking lot at Asheville, N.C., Regional Airport Sunday just after President Barack Obama departed on Air Force One.
McVey had a note in his car with formulas used for firing a rifle with a scope, but he did not have a rifle with him, authorities said.
His car also had a siren box, a mounted digital camera and LED law enforcement-style strobe lights in the front and rear dash, Asheville Regional Airport Capt. Kevan Smith said.
McVey was charged with a misdemeanor of going armed in terror of the public. He faces up to 120 days in jail if convicted of the misdemeanor, Buncombe County District Judge Patricia Young said.
McVey works as a Recall Specialist for Diles and also has a general class amateur (ham) radio operator's license, according to Diles' website.
One of his fellow ham radio operators attributed the police scanner and camera in McVey's car to the job.
Tim Wise, president of Coshocton County Radio Emergency Association Citizen Team, said McVey has been a member of the organization for about two years. Wise said members are not allowed to have police sirens or lights in order to speed to emergencies, but described McVey as a go-getter.
1 News
Gail Burkhardt
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J. Sean McVey
