Man Fought Officers, Wrecked Building Lobby, Cops Say

A Montgomery County man has been charged with numerous offenses following an alleged violent incident in Bristol Borough.

Officers responded last Friday morning to Gaudenzia, an addiction treatment center on the Lower Bucks Hospital campus, for a call that Josef Arthur Riley, 27, of Harleysville, was fighting and threatening staff, according to court papers.

Police said Riley had allegedly barricaded the door, was going after staff members, and destroying property. Two officers on the scene found Riley in the lobby and scattered debris, including glass, picture frames, bookshelves, chairs, and a clock.

Riley refused to comply with law enforcement attempts to stop him and pulled the door shut. An officer ripped the door open and Riley “squared up and clenched his fists taking a fighting stance,” police said, adding the man was becoming more aggravated.

Another officer arrived and Riley stated he raised his fists. A sergeant deployed his Taser, but the probes did not penetrate his skin, police said.

Riley was forced to the ground and was flailing as officers worked to detain him, police said.

According to police, they were eventually able to get Riley into custody and transport him to a holding cell to await arraignment.

While being transported away from the treatment center, Riley reportedly threatened an officer, police said.

An officer was checked at Lower Bucks Hospital for an injury.

Riley was arraigned on charges of aggravated assault, criminal mischief, terroristic threats, stalking, simple assault, reckless endangerment, and disorderly conduct. On-call District Judge Michael Gallagher denied bail as Riley was a danger to himself and the public and ordered to have him assessed.

Editor’s Note: All individuals arrested or charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. The story was compiled using information from police and public court documents.

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