Crime & Safety

Man Breached Bucks Courthouse Security, Hurt Deputies: Court Docs

The man injured four sheriff's deputies while resisting arrest at the Bucks County Justice Center Wednesday morning, authorities said.

A Philadelphia man breached courthouse security and injured several deputies at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown on Wednesday morning, authorities said.
A Philadelphia man breached courthouse security and injured several deputies at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown on Wednesday morning, authorities said. (Peter Blanchard/Patch)

DOYLESTOWN, PA —A Philadelphia man is accused of breaching security at the Bucks County Justice Center on Wednesday and injuring four deputies who tried to detain him after he failed to respond to verbal commands, according to charging documents.

Shortly after 10 a.m., 43-year-old Jeffrey Dingle walked into the front entrance of the main floor of the Justice Center at 100 N. Main St, Doylestown, and proceeded to breach the security area and walk briskly toward the stair tower, ignoring commands from a deputy sheriff, authorities said.

The deputy requested backup and followed Dingle, who ran down the stairs onto a lower level. Dingle then walked into the Bucks County Domestic Relations Office, where he threw a folder behind the counter, authorities said. When he didn't respond to verbal commands, several deputies attempted to take Dingle into custody, at which point he resisted arrest and began punching and spitting on the deputies, court documents allege.

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Four deputies were injured, including one who suffered a fractured lower bone under his right eye, authorities said. They were taken to Doylestown Hospital for treatment.

Dingle was arraigned on four charges of aggravated assault, criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct. Judge Alan Rubenstein set bail at $10 million, which Dingle was unable to post Wednesday, according to court documents.

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Sheriff Milt Warrell said authorities believe Dingle had been there for domestic issues and was looking for his attorney, according to the Bucks County Courier Times.

A hearing in the case is scheduled for May 10.

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