JEFFERSON CO., Pa. (EYT) – A Punxsutawney man who reportedly injured two Sheriff’s Deputies who were serving an arrest warrant waived his hearing in court on Thursday.
Court documents indicate the following charges against 39-year-old Joseph E Byler were waived for court on November 5:
– Aggravated Assault – Attempts to cause or causes Bodily Injury, Felony 2
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2
– Resist Arrest/Other Law Enforcement
– Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3
The charges have been transferred to the Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas.
Byler remains free on $10,000.00 unsecured bail.
The charges stem from an incident that occurred in late September in Bell Township.
Details of the case:
According to a criminal complaint, around 3:03 p.m. on September 29, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Deputies attempted to serve a Jefferson County Domestic Relations warrant for failure to appear on Joseph Byler at a location on Starlite Lane in Punxsutawney, Bell Township, Jefferson County.
The deputies approached Byler’s home and were informed by another individual that Byler was on his tractor in the woods nearby. They proceeded to the indicated area and found Byler pulling a log on the back of the tractor.
When Byler was informed of the warrant and told that he was under arrest, he became angry and began yelling at the deputies. The deputies attempted to calm him down and talk to him about the situation, but Byler reportedly continued, using vulgar language and calling the deputies “liars,” according to the complaint.
Byler then became “more erratic,” while the deputies were walking with him toward his shed after he asked to lock up his tools and house because of “thieves in the neighborhood.” Byler reportedly placed two gas cans in his shed, then proceeded to the back of it and refused to come out, the complaint states.
The deputies were concerned about Byler being in the shed with objects that could be used as weapons, the complaint indicates.
Byler then asked to lock up his house and finally exited the shed. However, he was reportedly being “aggressive” and continued to swear and yell at the deputies, according to the complaint.
The deputies also accompanied Byler into his basement to allow him to turn the water off to the hose that he had been using outside. He then reportedly unhooked these and began “whipping it in a violent manner,” getting water on both of the deputies. After exiting the basement, Byler threw the hose down, walked up to his porch, and attempted to open the door. The officers stopped him from going inside, the complaint states.
The troopers reminded him that he said he had his keys and only needed to lock up the house. The officers then attempted to handcuff Byler, and he reportedly backed away. A physical fight then ensued, during which Byler pulled his arms to his stomach, pushed off the wall toward the deputies, and was eventually taken to the ground, according to the complaint.
Byler continued to struggle on the ground. He reportedly also began to bite one of the deputies on the hand, the complaint indicates.
After several minutes of struggle, Byler was restrained. However, he then refused to stand up. Once the deputies got him on his feet and to the patrol vehicle, Byler reportedly resisted getting inside the vehicle, putting his foot in the door, the complaint states.
During the arrest, one of the deputies had her glasses knocked off and broken, her watch broken and ripped off her wrist, and sustained a swollen left cheek with a bloody scratch. The other deputy sustained red bite marks to his right hand, red scratches to his left forearm, and red scratches to his forehead, according to the complaint.
Byler was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 10:20 a.m. on October 2.
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