BROCKWAY, Pa. (EYT) – An Anita man is facing a preliminary hearing on Wednesday aternoon on felony assault and related charges stemming from an incident where he allegedly threatened police and others with a hatchet.
Court documents indicate that 32-year-old John Lee Knox is scheduled to stand for a preliminary hearing in front of Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana at 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 27, on the following charges:
– Aggravated Assault, Felony 2 (two counts)
– Terroristic Threats W/ Int To Terrorize Another, Misdemeanor 1 (three counts)
– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement, Misdemeanor 2
– Defiant Trespass Actual Communication To, Misdemeanor 3
– Criminal Mischief, Misdemeanor 3
– Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3
– Use/Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Misdemeanor (30 counts)
– Harassment – Comm. Lewd, Threatening, Etc. Language, Misdemeanor 3 (three counts)
According to a criminal complaint, around 10:08 a.m. on Tuesday, June 12, Officer Stutsman received a direct call at the Brockway Police Station from a known man who reported there was a man refusing to leave his apartment on 7th Avenue in Brockway Borough. Officer Stutsman notified Jefferson County Control (JCC) and responded.
Upon arrival, Officer Stutsman observed a group of people that appeared to be engaged in a verbal argument with a white male, identified as John Knox. Officer Stutsman noted that Knox had an object in his right hand, which Officer Stutsman determined to be a hatchet.
According to the complaint, as Officer Stutsman got out of his patrol vehicle, Knox approached him and raised the hatchet. Officer Stutsman then drew his weapon and ordered Knox to drop the hatchet. The complaint states that Knox refused and began running around shouting random phrases, including “Shoot me.”
The complaint states that Knox approached Officer Stutsman and then backed up several times as Officer Stutsman continued to order him to drop the hatchet. Knox then fled into the wooded area behind Parkview Apartments.
At that time, Deputy Ellenberger, Officer Hollobaugh of the Brookville Police Department, Constable Serafini, and Troopers Buffone and Himes arrived in the area. Deputy Ellenberger was the first backup unit at the scene, and he immediately began searching the wooded area.
Officer Stutsman ordered everyone to go inside their apartments and lock the doors.
Officer Stutsman then heard a “loud bang” that sounded similar to a gunshot coming from the area of the park. He proceeded to the park and began clearing it. Trooper Buffone then stated that he spoke with a resident on 8th Avenue who had set off a firework, causing the “loud bang.”
As Officer Stutsman was coming through the park toward the apartments, Chief Young related that he and Deputy Ellenberger had Knox “in sight” in the wooded area.
Knox was taken into custody and searched. The officers found two used needles, two small straws with cotton swabs in them, a camouflage pill container with a clear liquid in it, one small clear baggie with multiple small black plastic baggies inside of it, and a black Sharpie marker on Knox’s person. Found inside his wallet was a small red, clear plastic baggie with a blue object and $1.00 cash along with other cards and his Pennsylvania ID card. Inside his backpack was an unopened pack of needles and several personal items. In total, 28 needles, both used and unused, were seized. The hatchet was also recovered near where Knox was taken into custody.
According to the complaint, after Knox was taken into custody, he refused to cooperate with police and was carried out of the wooded area. As he was carried into the opening near the skate park in Taylor Memorial Park, Knox began to shout obscenities. Officer Stutsman ordered Knox not to strike at any officers, and Knox began kicking him.
Brockway EMS then arrived at the scene, and Chief Young accompanied Knox to Penn Highlands DuBois.
Officer Stutsman stayed at the scene to gather evidence. He observed drawings and writing on the hood of a known female’s vehicle. Written in black permanent marker, including a drawing of what appeared to be a box, a spoon, a fork, and a hatchet along with a smiley face and the words “happy jay.”
Officer Stutsman interviewed the known female victim, who reported that Knox was “hanging all over” her vehicle. She said that she and two others had told Knox to leave their property and their vehicles several times, but Knox refused.
The victim said, “When the cop pulled in, Johnny was going to throw the hatchet through his windshield.”
The victim and another individual also reported that Knox had threatened to use the hatchet and his knife on them. The victim stated that at one point, Knox hit the other individual with the broad side of the hatchet and that Knox said that “once the cops leave, he was coming back for us.”
Two other individuals corroborated the victim’s statements and reported that Knox refused to leave after being told to several times.
Knox was arraigned at 11:45 a.m. on Wednesday, June 13, in Magisterial District Judge David B. Inzana’s office.
Unable to post $50,000.00 cash bail, he remains lodged in the Jefferson County Jail.
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