Man who escaped standoff, wanted on warrant, threatened to ‘fight to the death’ to avoid jail
MAHANOY CITY – A Mahanoy City man is facing felony charges after police say he threatened to disarm a police officer and “fight to the death” to avoid going to jail.
Joshua Osborne, 35, of East Mahanoy Street, was arraigned Thursday night on felony aggravated assault and flight charges.
According to the criminal complaint filed by Mahanoy City Police Chief T.J. Rentschler, police were called around 10:30am Thursday to a home in the 1000 block of Mahanoy Street for a psychiatric incident.
The man was identified as Osborne, who also had a warrant for a February 2023 domestic violence incident.
Police arrived and were met by a concerned relative who said Osborne was in his bedroom upstairs and may have weapons.
Patrolman Cody Applegate made his way upstairs and asked Osborne to come out and speak with him.
Osborne told Applegate he wasn’t going anywhere and said “If you want to shoot me, shoot me, I’m not doing this, done nothing wrong.”
Applegate told Osborne of his warrant and said, “I don’t give a f—, if you come in this room, I will disarm you. I will disarm you to protect myself.”
The officer requested backup at that point and while waiting, Osborne yelled towards Applegate, saying he wasn’t going back to jail.
“I will fight to the death, I’m not going to jail,” Osborne is quoted as saying in the criminal complaint, continuing to threaten to disarm the officer.
The incident was captured on a body-worn camera.
He told police that if they came into his room, “it will be the last move you make.”
A brief standoff ensued and, when police made entry, they found an open window and no Osborne.
Frackville Police Chief Paul Olson told Rentschler that a witness saw Osborne run out of the back door of an abandoned house next door.
Osborne was arrested later Thursday and arraigned.
He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $100,000 bail.
A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 30 before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker in Shenandoah.
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