State Prison For Man Who Refused To Wear Mask, Fought Sheriff’s Deputies

A Philadelphia man who ignored numerous rules at the Bucks County Justice Center and fought sheriff’s office deputies last year has found himself headed to state prison.

Jeffrey Dingle, 44, of Philadelphia, pleaded guilty before Bucks County Judge Jeffrey Finley Tuesday to three counts of aggravated assault and one count each of criminal trespassing, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, according to the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office.

The judge sentenced the man to 18 months to 48 months in state prison. He was also ordered to pay $8,000.36 in restitution to cover the medical costs of the deputies.

On the morning of April 21, 2021, Dingle arrived at the Bucks County Justice Center in Doylestown Borough and refused the then-policy enacted by Bucks County President Judge Wallace Bateman that people had to wear a mask when they entered the facility. He then placed his belongings on the X-ray machine in the lobby and the metal detector alerted on something metal on him, authorities said.

Instead of letting deputies inspect him, Dingle grabbed his items and began walking away. He ignored law enforcement commands and began running to the stairwell and fled to the domestic relations office in the basement level, authorities said.

Deputies gave chase and more responded as Dingle threw a folder and went to the window of the domestic relations office, authorities said.

Dingle, according to prosecutors, refused to listen to deputies and struggled with them as they worked to take him into custody.

The Philadelphia man punched a sheriff’s office sergeant in the face and a deputy in the head. He also spit on one of the deputies, authorities said.

The sheriff’s office sergeant suffered a fractured orbital bone after an examination at Doylestown Hospital.

In court on Tuesday, Deputy District Attorney Thomas Gannon played surveillance footage showing the incident.

The sergeant read from a victim impact statement in court.

“Jeffrey Dingle caused a significant security risk to the Bucks County Criminal Justice Center and the citizens of the community on this date. These actions were uncalled for and unnecessary,” he told the court.

“This sentence sends a strong message to the public that we in the criminal justice system will protect our law enforcement officers as they risk injury and death every day while they are protecting us,” District Attorney Matt Weintraub said in a statement.

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