PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (EYT) — A Jefferson County woman is facing felony assault and related charges after she allegedly threatened two police officers and two EMTs with a utility knife.
Court documents indicate the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department filed the following criminal charges against 35-year-old Theresa M. Riles, of Punxsutawney:
– Aggravated Assault, Felony 2 (four counts)
– Simple Assault, Misdemeanor 2 (four counts)
– Recklessly Endangering Another Person, Misdemeanor 2 (four counts)
– Disorderly Conduct Engage In Fighting, Misdemeanor 3 (four counts)
– Disorder Conduct Hazardous/Physi Offense, Misdemeanor 3 (four counts)
– Public Drunkenness And Similar Misconduct, Summary
According to a criminal complaint, around 7:55 a.m. on October 7, 2018, Officers Andrekovich and Panebianco of the Punxsutawney Borough Police Department was dispatched to an apartment on Beyer Avenue for a reported M.H.M.R. ambulance assist.
The complaint, which was released on April 23, 2019, due to a delay in arraignment, said officers located Theresa Riles inside the residence refusing to answer the door.
After several attempts to make contact, Riles opened the door and asked the officers to come inside.
According to the complaint, Riles was intoxicated and Officer Andrekovich observed red scratches on her wrist. Officer Andrekovich then told Riles the ambulance crew was there, at her request, to transport her to the Punxsutawney Emergency Room, and Riles gathered her personal items to take to the hospital and walked outside.
The complaint states that Riles then began to question why the officers were at her house when she only wanted a ride (to the hospital), and Officer Andrekovich advised her that the ambulance was taking her to the hospital to talk to a crisis worker as she requested. The ambulance crew then assisted Riles into the ambulance and placed her on a gurney.
Riles then began to resist the ambulance crew, according to the complaint, and attempted to exit the ambulance. Officer Panebianco attempted to reason with her and then saw her reach into her purse and remove a yellow and black utility knife.
According to the complaint, Riles raised the knife toward the officers and the ambulance crew moved to the front of the unit to avoid contact with Riles as she began to wave the knife around.
The complaint notes that Riles placed the knife to her own neck several times and also waved it toward both officers. She then placed the knife behind her back as she saw the ambulance crew behind her. At that time, Officer Panebianco grabbed her arm while Officer Andrekovich removed the knife from her hand.
Riles was then removed from the ambulance, placed on the ground, and handcuffed. Officer Andrekovich transported her to the Punxsutawney Area Hospital for treatment.
The complaint notes Riles began to vomit several times prior to arrival at the emergency room and then attempted to leave several times while at the emergency room.
Based on the investigation, Riles was arraigned in front of Magisterial District Judge Jacqueline J. Mizerock at 1:40 p.m. on Monday, April 22.
She remains free on $5,000.00 unsecured bail.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 7, with Judge Mizerock presiding
