Tempers flared at the Slatington Borough Council meeting on Monday night as four residents from the 200 block of South Walnut Street addressed the same issue.

Dan Sell, Dwight Miller, George Haas and Brian Sell stated their concern, fear and outrage concerning a group of allegedly out-of-town 'kids' who were said to be seen trespassing on the private property of a local business, loitering on sidewalks, cursing loudly, vandalizing residents' homes and issuing threats to residents.Each resident asked the same question: "what were the council members and the police doing about the matter?"Some of the residents also complained that reports made to the police about the matter were either not taken seriously, or that they were treated rudely by the responding officers.Slatington Chief of Police David Rachman stressed several times the importance of understanding that every story has two sides in regards to the residents' complaints about the policemen's behavior as well as the complaints about the kids. He repeated this to each of the four residents who spoke on the matter.He also stated that issues of trespassing and loitering can be delicate and somewhat complicated issues. The reports of the kids trespassing on the posted private property of the local business were addressed, but he said any trespassing complaints had to be made by the property owner.While Dan Sell, Miller and Haas all spoke with raised voices, confrontations did not arise with either council members or Rachman. It was shortly after Brian Sell began to speak that a loud and boisterous argument arose between him and Rachman.Brian Sell started off by describing several acts of threatening behavior from the kids and also said his house had been egged by them Sunday night. He also said he had been personally threatened and cursed at by the kids. As the other residents had done, he asked several times what the police and council members intended to do about this matter.Sell said he was also treated poorly by the responding officer and received a citation after reporting the threats and acts of vandalism.Rachman said he was informed that Sell had called out a profanity to the kids. Sell denied the accusations, and he and Rachman ending up arguing loudly.After he finished speaking, Sell left the room, and shortly afterward, Rachman excused himself from the meeting, admitting he needed a chance to calm down.Sell did not return, but Rachman later did. Rachman apologized to all attendees and council members on behalf of himself and Sell. He said that he and Sell exchanged apologies and that everything was OK between them.Rachman said he would speak to his policemen about the complaints made against them and the loitering kids.