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Man Pulls Pistol On Striking Worker In West Virginia

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FLATWOODS, W.Va. (AP) - A Georgia man has been accused of pulling a pistol and telling a striking Frontier Communications worker in West Virginia "don't mess with me."

The Charleston Gazette-Mail cites a report filed with state police as saying the striker had yelled "you're taking our jobs" at the Lawrenceville man Tuesday near Flatwoods.

The report says 44-year-old Ato Oronde Clark was charged with one count of brandishing a weapon. It is unclear if he has a lawyer.

A Communications Workers of America statement says Frontier started hiring out-of-state workers to maintain operations after roughly 1,400 employees went on strike Sunday. The strike began after union leaders and the company failed to reach a contract agreement.

Frontier spokesman Andy Malinoski says Clark had not done work yet and his contractor has terminated him.

(Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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