‘ONE FOR THE RECORD BOOKS:’ Man breaks into, barricades self deep in No. 9 Mine for 12 hours
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - David Eisenhower, seen in the red hoodie, is brought out of the No. 9 Mine in Lansford after a 12-hour standoff with police on May 25, 2023.
LANSFORD – An unusual situation unfolded Thursday in this Carbon County town, as police said a man broke into the No. 9 Mine, an Anthracite mine-turned tourist attraction, and wouldn’t come out for 12 hours.
The man, identified as David Eisenhower, had made his way into the mine around 4am and was found by workers at the mine around 9am.
Police said he made his way to the second level — beyond where tours are led — of the multi-level deep mine. That level, authorities said, is pitch black and full of mud and water. There are two levels beneath that, they said, both of which are wholly flooded.
The Pennsylvania State Police Special Emergency Response Team [SERT], the statewide tactical team, responded along with local police. The Department of Environmental Protection’s Deep Mine Rescue unit also responded to assist.
Carbon County Detective Jack Soberick, who retired last year as police chief in Lansford, described Thursday’s incident as being in “uncharted territory” and “one for the record books.”
“I’ve been on the job 38 years,” Soberick said. “I talked with some of the SERT team members, 14-year guys on the job, they’ve never had to do something like this.”
“A deep coal mine, this might be one for the record books, definitely in the top three,” Soberick added. “[SERT trains] for confined space operations, and thank God they do, because that’s what went on today.”
Mark Nalesnik, Carbon County Emergency Management director, stressed safety in the day’s operations, and officials feared for Eisenhower’s safety in the deep mine.
Temperatures in the mine are typically around 50 degrees, and Eisenhower had entered in a hoodie and shorts. There are also gangways and other workings which posed a hazard in that area. Soberick said he was at least 1700 feet into the mine.
The DEP Deep Mine Rescue unit assisted SERT in planning their operation to get the man out.
SERT made entry around 3pm and emerged from the mine around 4pm with Eisenhower.
Lansford Police Sergeant Shawn Nunemacher said Eisenhower is facing multiple charges, including burglary and reckless endangerment. He said Eisenhower told mine workers who discovered him that he had a weapon, but no weapon was found as of 4:30pm.
Eisenhower was taken to a waiting Lehighton Ambulance, covered in coal dirt, and transported to a local hospital.
Authorities had no information on why he broke into the mine and barricaded himself, but said he did have outstanding warrants.
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