Man lit ATM on fire in Ross Township to make ‘statement’ against federal government, police say

ROSS TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A man who police say doused an ATM in gasoline before lighting it on fire in Ross Township has turned himself in.

Early Wednesday morning, police said a man approached the ATM at Chase Bank near the intersection of McKnight Road and Sibert Road with a gas can. He then doused the ATM with gasoline and lit it on fire before fleeing the area.

Keith Coyne, Jr., 46, showed up at the police station later that evening to surrender, and told officers he did it because he wanted to make a ”statement" against the federal government, according to a criminal complaint.

Police said he had both written expletives and his signature on the gas can he used to start the fire.

“Our cameras were there early yesterday morning as police worked to investigate the scene and the damage,” said investigators, who also noted the timing of the attack — just after midnight when the shutdown took effect.

Coyne later told police he was upset with the federal government and viewed the banking industry as an arm of that government, according to authorities.

Coyne told officers he chose the specific bank only because it was within close walking distance to his home and he knew the fire department was nearby, according to police. He added that he chose a free-standing ATM because it wasn’t connected to the building and he didn’t wish to harm anyone.

Officials say the outdoor ATM is encased in metal, which likely limited the extent of the blaze, and that the machine appeared to still be operational after the incident. Police declined to provide a damage estimate pending Chase Bank’s assessment.

Residents at the shopping center expressed concern at the destruction. “Definitely don’t want to go to that kind of violence or destroy property — there are ways to protest peacefully and make your point heard,” one shopper said. Shoppers added they plan to avoid the ATM for the time being. “I think I’ll bypass that ATM for a while,” a customer added.

Coyne is facing charges including arson and criminal mischief.

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