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MIFFLINTOWN -- A McAlisterville man faces charges in three Juniata County cases after state police allege he stole property, possessed packaged methamphetamine and injured officers during two struggles while being taken into custody.
Joshua Allen Hockenberry, 41, is charged across the cases with two felony counts of aggravated assault, felony drug possession with intent to deliver, obstruction of justice, receiving stolen property and related offenses.
According to court documents, state police went to a Rockland Road residence in Fayette Township at about 10:15 p.m. July 24 after receiving information that Hockenberry, who allegedly had active warrants, might be there.
Police said Hockenberry had been linked to a silver Subaru Outback and was suspected of possessing property stolen during several incidents in Juniata and Snyder counties.
Troopers said they saw Hockenberry inside the residence and entered to take him into custody. Hockenberry allegedly resisted, knocked handcuffs from a corporal's hand and continued struggling after three troopers took him to the ground.
Police used a Taser in drive-stun mode before taking him into custody, according to the affidavit. Court documents allege that a corporal was injured during the struggle but do not describe the injury.
During a search, police allegedly found a glass smoking device, a copper-colored straw and 10 individually packaged bags of suspected methamphetamine in Hockenberry's pocket. Police said the substance tested positive for methamphetamine using a field-testing kit.
A camouflage tent and blue Grizzly all-terrain vehicle matching descriptions of stolen property were found at the scene, police said. A backpack inside the Subaru allegedly contained cigarettes matching the description of other stolen property.
Police said Hockenberry initially provided a different name and denied that he was Joshua Hockenberry.
The stolen property was seized, and the ATV was taken to the state police impound lot, according to the affidavit.
In that case, Hockenberry is charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, receiving stolen property, false identification to law enforcement, possession with intent to deliver, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Police allege Hockenberry struggled with troopers a second time after they took him to the state police barracks in Lewistown.
According to a separate affidavit, Hockenberry remained handcuffed behind his back as two troopers escorted him from a patrol vehicle toward the station entrance. Police said he spun away from the troopers and ran several feet before being tackled.
Hockenberry allegedly continued thrashing on the ground, refused to walk and had to be dragged into the station and secured to a prisoner bench.
One trooper suffered a bleeding abrasion to his left elbow during the struggle, police said.
Hockenberry is charged in that case with aggravated assault, evading arrest or detention on foot and resisting arrest.
A third case accuses Hockenberry of theft and harassment following a July 22 incident in Delaware Township.
All charges in the three cases were waived to the Juniata County Court of Common Pleas on Aug. 19. Prosecutors filed criminal informations Sept. 3.
Court records list Hockenberry's place of confinement as the Mifflin County Correctional Facility. The custody information is dated July 25.
Bail was set at $50,000 in the Fayette Township case and $25,000 in the barracks case. Hockenberry received $10,000 unsecured bail in the Delaware Township case.