Charges dropped in county court for man accused of assaulting police officer during juvenile DUI arrest

All charges against an Easton man, including aggravated battery on a police officer, were dropped in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court during a preliminary hearing Monday.

Vincent Joseph Hebel, 20, of the 1900 block of Fairview Avenue, was also charged by New Britain Township police in October with misdemeanor DUI of alcohol or controlled substances, DUI as a minor and resisting arrest related of incidents that took place in September. 26 at 12:46 a.m. at West Butler Avenue and Schoolhouse Road, police said.

Police said an officer was on patrol around the Wawa at 525 W. Butler Ave. when he pulled up behind a black 2021 Toyota Camry sedan driven by Hebel.

Hebel, police allege, stopped his Toyota at a steady red light entering Butler Avenue in the far right or right lane with his left turn signal on.

When the light turned green, Hebel, police said, made a left turn from the wrong lane into a car that had tinted black windows that could not see inside.

Police said Hebel’s third brake light was also out. As Hebel continued to approach the intersection with Schoolhouse Road, police attempted to pull the car over, according to the complaint.

Hebel, police allege, slowly continued driving after police lights were activated and turned into the back of Wayback Burger at 429 W. Butler Ave.

Police approached the passenger side of the Toyota and asked Hebel for his license. Police said they saw a second license in Hebel’s wallet. When asked to hand over the second license, Hebel denied having one, police said.

Police approached the driver’s side of Hebel’s car, at which point he allegedly removed the second license from his wallet and threw it into the passenger’s side of the car, according to the complaint.

Hebel was asked to get out of the car and initially did not comply, police said. He eventually got out of the car and was patted down for his weapons, police said.

Hebel was told to lean against the rear bumper while police returned to the patrol vehicle to run Hebel’s information through PennDOT, according to the affidavit. When police returned to Hebel, he had alcohol on his breath, police allege, as well as glassy eyes.

He told police he was coming from his girlfriend’s house and was on his way home to Easton, according to the complaint. When asked if he had anything to drink, Hebel said no, police said. Hebel agreed to take field sobriety tests, which he failed, according to the report. Hebel also refused a breathalyzer, police said.

Hebel began walking behind his car and was ordered to stop, police said. He told police he was going to call his girlfriend, but an officer grabbed his right arm and tried to arrest him, police said.

Hebel violently pulled his arm toward his chest and began reaching for his cell phone, and police grabbed his left arm and tried to put it behind his back, but he strained again, police said.

Officers continued to struggle with Hebel as he allegedly backed away and was forced to the ground when he said, “Let’s go to the ground then,” police said.

Hebel continued to disobey commands and attempted restraints, police said.

Eventually, Hebel broke free and stood up, removing his shirt, police said. He then allegedly clenched both fists, looked at an officer and threw his right fist, missing the officer.

The officer fired his Taser and told Hebel to put his hands behind his back, police said. She turned around and confronted the patrol vehicle, but kept a hand up on the hood of the car and wouldn’t let police put her in the back, according to the complaint.

Hebel was then subdued, but allegedly continued to resist and retreat. He was finally arrested at 1:04 a.m., police said. He was taken to Doylestown Hospital for evaluation by paramedics, police said, and refused a legal blood draw.

Hebel is free on $25,000 unsecured bail, according to court records. A formal hearing is set for January 24.

All suspects and defendants are innocent until proven guilty. This story was compiled using public court records.