HANOVER, Penn. – The Serpent’s Key Shoppe and Sanctuary, a Pagan store at 8 Baltimore Street in Hanover, Pennsylvania was visited by Hanover Borough Police Chief Chad E. Martin and a second person, presumably an officer, investigating the business for violating state law regarding tarot card readings. The incident was reported on TikTok and Instagram by Hedge Walker and Lunar Witch, Beck Lawrence who owns the store.
Lawrence came on TikTok after an encounter that left them nervous and concerned about the behavior of police officers at their store two days ago. Lawrence called out to Pagan business owners in Pennsylvania to pay attention and added that someone “had the cops called on you know who in the year of their Lord 2023 for practicing witchcraft and reading tarot in my shop.”
@thestitchingwitch I cant believe this mess. I get to see him tomorrow. Want to come hang out at The Serpent’s Key? #witch #witchcraft #witchtok #pagan #paganism #xtian #exchristian
Lawrence wrote today that the police chief himself came to investigate after seeing a story “written about what great things my store was doing for our downtown area like cleaning up trash and building a community.”
The Wild Hunt contacted Lawrence who described and verified the incident from two days ago and added the visit by the police chief this morning.
“Two Police Officers arrived at my establishment around 11:36 am this morning, “ Lawrence said. “I was cordial and asked if they would consent to me recording our conversation on my phone for legal purposes, and was told by Chad Martin that he did not consent to that. Following that, I stated that I would not be talking to them without my legal counsel. Officer Martin wanted to ‘have an adult conversation’, but settled on simply verbally telling me about the law, and that my disclaimers were not likely to hold up in court. They didn’t press charges, or fine me, but did say that if they got any complaints or reports, they would be investigating.”
@thestitchingwitch I WAS TALLER THAN HIM 😂 #witch #witchcraft #pagan #paganism
♬ Frolic (Theme from “Curb Your Enthusiasm” TV Show) – Luciano Michelini
The law in reference is Pennsylvania Title 18, Section 7104 which came into force on June 6, 1973:
A person is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree if he pretends for gain or lucre, to tell fortunes or predict future events, by cards, tokens, the inspection of the head or hands of any person, or by the age of anyone, or by consulting the movements of the heavenly bodies, or in any other manner, or for gain or lucre, pretends to effect any purpose by spells, charms, necromancy, or incantation, or advises the taking or administering of what are commonly called love powders or potions, or prepares the same to be taken or administered, or publishes by card, circular, sign, newspaper or other means that he can predict future events, or for gain or lucre, pretends to enable anyone to get or to recover stolen property, or to tell where lost property is, or to stop bad luck, or to give good luck, or to put bad luck on a person or animal, or to stop or injure the business or health of a person or shorten his life, or to give success in business, enterprise, speculation, and games of chance, or to win the affection of a person, or to make one person marry another, or to induce a person to make or alter a will, or to tell where money or other property is hidden, or to tell where to dig for treasure, or to make a person to dispose of property in favor of another.
The Pennsylvania statute notes that advertising of these services is admissible as evidence, as are any individuals who have had their fortune told.
The law does not specify or exempt religious and spiritual practices of divination.
Lawrence said they are lawyered up and ready to fight.
They added, “I think that now is the time to raise your voice if you haven’t, or have been afraid to. For all of the men, women, and people who have been wrongly accused, tried, and murdered for “witchcraft”. They will not stop with me, they will come for all of us, and as a community now more than ever it is important to be visible, present, and demand the respect our traditions- old or new rightfully deserve. The institution of the Church encourages these people, however truly it is a castle built on sand.”
The attention the situation has received through social media has seemingly forced the Hanover Borough Police Department to release a statement this afternoon. Via Facebook, the Department wrote:
The purpose of the following message is to respond to recent social media attention given to Pennsylvania Title 18, Section 7104, Fortune Telling. The statute prohibits, among other things, someone from predicting the future by the reading of cards for gain.
Upon observing an advertisement for a business in the Borough of Hanover that offered tarot card readings, I engaged in a conversation with two individuals concerning the advertisement and my intent to educate the person, or persons engaged, in the acts about the above listed statute. There was never an investigation, nor was there any threat of arrest in this matter. With that being said, if a complaint was made against someone for engaging in acts qualifying as “fortune telling” in the Borough of Hanover; this department would be obligated to conduct an investigation. Finally, regarding this issue, the only departmental time utilized was mine in an effort to educate someone and to prevent a future complaint or issue.
If one possesses the sentiment that the statute, Pennsylvania Title 18, section 7104, Fortune Telling, does not protect anyone from harm and is not needed, then I would suggest that their proper recourse is to contact their legislators and voice their opinion.
Sincerely,
Chad E. Martin
Chief of Police
It is unclear why neither visit is listed on the Hanover Borough Police Department incident logs for October 3-5, 2023.
The Hanover Borough Police Department also limited those who can comment on their Facebook post, a tactic which, upon reviewing older posts on Facebook, is a new behavior for the department.
In posts from the Hanover Borough Police Department where commenting was permitted ( that is all posts but those of the past 24 hours) community members asked the department to explain their behavior in visiting The Serpent’s Key. There were no responses from the police.
Lawrence said they were grateful for the huge response they have been receiving from the Pagan community after sharing the incident. “Above all else, I have found that when you build a sanctuary- those who walk a similar path will ultimately find it and I am so incredibly grateful for all of the love, support, well wishes, and protective/abundant energies that have been sent my way.”
Lawrence reminds the Pagan Community “Your community is there. Two years ago, I began independently organizing pagan meetups through York County Witchery’s Facebook page- before I even had a shop, or even dreamed of owning one, and found the community that has rallied itself around me today. Don’t be afraid, and don’t feel as if you are ever alone, even if you’re a Solitary practitioner.”
Lawrence expects more police behavior at the store in the future. The Wild Hunt will continue to follow this story.
